What is person? Pronunciation and usage in English

person means . Learn how to pronounce and use person through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of person

personnoun

/ˈpəːsn/
Definition & pronunciation of person

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "person" in English. It can be tricky because it's not always pronounced the same way across different dialects. Here's a breakdown of the most common pronunciations and how to do them:

1. The Most Common American Pronunciation (and increasingly common in British English):

  • "per-ZON" - This is the pronunciation you'll hear most often in the United States and is becoming more prevalent in the UK.
    • "per" – Sounds like the word "pear" (as in the fruit). It’s a short, sharp “er” sound.
    • "ZON" – This is the key part. It sounds like the word "zone." The "z" is pronounced like the "z" in "zebra."

2. The Traditional British Pronunciation:

  • "per-SOHN" – This is the classic British pronunciation.
    • "per" - Same as above – sounds like "pear."
    • "SOHN" – This sounds like "son" (as in a son of a parent). The "h" is silent.

3. A More Formal/Older British Pronunciation (less common now):

  • "per-ZON" – This was more common in the past, and can still be heard. It's nearly identical to the American pronunciation.

Here’s a breakdown of the sounds using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), which helps clarify the pronunciation:

  • American: /pərˈsɒn/ (pər - as in "berry," ˈsɒn - as in "son")
  • British (Traditional): /pɜːrsən/ (pɜːr - as in "pear," sən - as in "son")

Tips for Pronunciation:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you located? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia, etc.) – This will help me know which dialect is most relevant to you.

Usage and examples with the word person in English

Let's break down how to use the word "person" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word! Here's a breakdown of its different uses, with examples:

1. As a General Term for a Human Being:

  • Most Common Usage: This is the most frequent way "person" is used. It simply means a human being.
    • Example: "That’s a nice person."
    • Example: "Every person has the right to vote."
    • Example: "Please be kind to all people."

2. As a Placeholder for "Someone":

  • When you don't know the specific name: "Person" can replace "someone" or "a person" when you're referring to an individual without knowing their name. It's more formal than "someone."
    • Example: "I spoke to a person about the issue." (Instead of: “I spoke to someone about the issue.”)
    • Example: "If anything happens, contact a person in charge."

3. Referring to a Role or Profession:

  • In legal or formal contexts: "Person" can refer to a job title, role, or function.
    • Example: "The person in charge of security." (Meaning: The security manager or head of security)
    • Example: "A person of influence." (Meaning: A respected person with power or sway)
    • Example: "A legal person" (Referring to a company or corporation – it's a legal entity)

4. In Phrases and Idioms:

  • “Person of interest”: Someone who is being investigated but not necessarily a suspect. ("He is currently a person of interest in the robbery investigation.")
  • “To be a person of importance”: To be regarded as significant or influential.
  • "A person to talk to": Someone who can help you with something. ("I need a person to talk to about my worries.")

5. Usage with “People” (plural):

  • Remember that "people" is the plural of "person".
    • Example: "The people in the city are friendly."

Here’s a table summarizing the different types of usage:

Usage Example Meaning
General Human Being “That’s a kind person.” A human being with good qualities
Placeholder for "Someone" “I spoke to a person about it.” Someone without knowing their name
Role/Profession “The person in charge is unavailable.” A specific job or position
Legal Context "A legal person (corporation)" A company or organization treated as an entity
Phrases/Idioms "Person of interest" Someone under investigation

Tips for Using "Person" Correctly:

  • Formality: "Person" is generally more formal than “someone” or “individual.”
  • Context is Key: Pay attention to the context to understand how “person” is being used.
  • Don't Overuse it: In many situations, "person" sounds slightly stuffy. "People" is often more natural.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of writing or speaking are you doing where you want to use "person"? (e.g., formal essays, casual conversation, business emails)
  • Can you give me an example sentence you're struggling with?

Synonyms for the word person

Idioms of the word person

about/on your person
(formal)if you have or carry something about/on your person, you carry it about with you, for example in your pocket
  • Relatives of the dead man were traced through an address found on his person.
be no respecter of persons, age, class, etc.
to treat everyone in the same way, without being influenced by their importance, wealth, etc.
  • Death is no respecter of persons.
in person
if you do something in person, you go somewhere and do it yourself, instead of doing it by letter, asking somebody else to do it, etc.
  • He had to pick up his welfare cheque in person.
  • She appeared in person to collect her prize.
in the person of somebody
(formal)in the form or shape of somebody
  • Help arrived in the person of his mother.
  • The firm has an important asset in the person of the sales director.
person of interest
a person who is believed to be involved in a crime, but who has not been arrested
  • Police have said they do have a person of interest in the case.

Practice with vocabulary person

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. Each ______ applying for the visa must attend an interview at the embassy.
  2. The management team is seeking a highly motivated ______ to lead the new project.
  3. For effective communication, it's essential to consider the unique perspective of every ______ in the discussion.
  4. The HR department plans to hire additional ______ to support the expanding customer service operations.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (there may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. Which of the following terms refers to a singular human being, especially when considering their rights or identity? A) individual B) entity C) character D) person

  2. To ensure data security, the organization must verify the identity of every ____ accessing sensitive information. A) user B) clientele C) person D) individual

  3. The company provides extensive training for every new ____ joining their team. A) personnel B) person C) hire D) employee

  4. The security breach was caused by unauthorized ____ gaining access to the network. A) parties B) individuals C) personnel D) entities

  5. Effective project management often requires delegating tasks efficiently among all team ____. A) members B) staff C) employees D) persons

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: Everyone who wishes to participate in the workshop must register online by Friday. Rewrite using "person":

  2. Original: It is important to remember that privacy is a fundamental right for all. Rewrite using a word related to "person" (e.g., "personal", "person's"):

  3. Original: The project manager emphasized that each person's contribution was vital to the team's success. Rewrite without using "person" or related forms, using a suitable replacement word:

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. person
  2. person
  3. individual
  4. employees

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. A) individual, D) person
  2. C) person, D) individual
  3. B) person, C) hire, D) employee
  4. A) parties, B) individuals, D) entities
  5. A) members

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Every person who wishes to participate in the workshop must register online by Friday.
  2. It is important to remember that a person's privacy is a fundamental right.
  3. The project manager emphasized that each contributor's input was vital to the team's success.

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