How to Pronounce “penultimate”

American (US)

/pɪˈnʌltɪmət/

British (UK)

/pɪˈnʌltɪmət/

adjective — Last but one in a series.

Example: The penultimate chapter is the strongest.

The final e is silent. The transcription /pɪˈnʌltɪmət/ ends on a consonant sound, so the written e at the end of “penultimate” is not pronounced.

Where the stress falls. “penultimate” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /pɪˈnʌltɪmət/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /pɪˈnʌltɪmət/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "penultimate" mean?

penultimate (adjective): Last but one in a series. For example — The penultimate chapter is the strongest.

How do you pronounce "penultimate" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "penultimate", /pɪˈnʌltɪmət/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "penultimate"?

/pɪˈnʌltɪmət/ in American English, /pɪˈnʌltɪmət/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "penultimate"?

“penultimate” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /pɪˈnʌltɪmət/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.