Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To use the organs of speech to make heard (a word or speech sound); utter.
  • intransitive verb To say clearly, correctly, or in a given manner.
  • intransitive verb To represent (a word) in phonetic symbols.
  • intransitive verb To declare officially or formally.
  • intransitive verb To say words; speak.
  • intransitive verb To declare one's opinion; make a pronouncement.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Pronunciation; declaration.
  • To declare; make known; announce; proclaim.
  • To form or articulate by the organs of speech; utter articulately; speak; utter; specifically, to give a word its due recognized sound in uttering it.
  • To utter formally, officially, or solemnly.
  • To speak or utter rhetorically; deliver: as, to pronounce an oration.
  • To declare or affirm.
  • Synonyms Enunciate, Deliver, etc. See utter.
  • To speak with confidence or authority; make declaration; utter an opinion; declare one's self.
  • To utter words; specifically, to articulate words correctly.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • intransitive verb To give a pronunciation; to articulate.
  • intransitive verb rare To make declaration; to utter on opinion; to speak with confidence.
  • noun obsolete Pronouncement; declaration; pronunciation.
  • transitive verb To utter articulately; to speak out or distinctly; to utter, as words or syllables; to speak with the proper sound and accent .
  • transitive verb To utter officially or solemnly; to deliver, as a decree or sentence.
  • transitive verb To speak or utter rhetorically; to deliver; to recite.
  • transitive verb To declare or affirm

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb transitive To formally declare, officially or ceremoniously.
  • verb intransitive To pass judgment.
  • verb transitive To sound out (a) word(s).
  • verb intransitive To produce the components of speech.
  • verb transitive To declare authoritatively, or as a formal expert opinion.
  • verb transitive To read aloud.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way
  • verb pronounce judgment on

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English pronouncen, from Old French prononcier, from Latin prōnūntiāre : prō-, forth; see pro– + nūntiāre, to announce (from nūntius, messenger; see neu- in Indo-European roots).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Recorded since c.1330, "to utter, declare officially", from Old French pronuncier, from Latin prōnūntiō, itself from prō- ("forth, out, in public") + nūntiō ("I announce") from nūntius ("messenger").

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Examples

  • Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the French word "grimpette" and the example sentence: Download Grimpette (mp3).

    French Word-A-Day: 2009

  • AUDIO FILE: Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the French word "gâteau" and read today's example sentence: Download Gateau Download Gateau

    French Word-A-Day: 2009

  • AUDIO FILE: Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the French word "gâteau" and read today's example sentence: Download Gateau Download Gateau

    gateau - French Word-A-Day 2009

  • AUDIO FILE: Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the French word vélo and read the French sentence, above.

    French Word-A-Day: 2009

  • Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the French word "grimpette" and the example sentence: Download Grimpette (mp3).

    grimpette - French Word-A-Day 2009

  • Sound file and Example sentence: listen to Kristin pronounce these French words: Download MP3 orDownload Wav

    French Word-A-Day: 2010

  • Even those of us who (at least more-or-less) pronounce the Spanish words properly (meaning well enough that the average Spanish speaker understands us) will never lose our accents.

    long-timers, what can�t you still pronounce well in Spanish? 2009

  • Even those of us who (at least more-or-less) pronounce the Spanish words properly (meaning well enough that the average Spanish speaker understands us) will never lose our accents.

    long-timers, what can�t you still pronounce well in Spanish? 2009

  • Sound file and Example sentence: listen to Kristin pronounce these French words: Download MP3 orDownload Wav

    avant-propos - French Word-A-Day 2010

  • Sound file and Example sentence: listen to Kristin pronounce these French words: Download MP3 orDownload Wav

    Writing 2010

Comments

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  • I've only tested a few pronunciations so far. link.

    "In today's international business environment, it is exceedingly important to say your clients name correctly, you CANNOT afford to call Dumass, a Dumb-ass. The internet has removed international boundaries and people are making new friends via email and chat every second, would you not want your friends to be able to pronounce your name correctly?"

    --from PronounceNames.com

    September 21, 2009