What is programme? Pronunciation and usage in English

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

Definition & pronunciation of programme

programmenoun

/ˈprəʊɡram/
Definition & pronunciation of programme

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "programme" in English. It's a tricky one because it's often mispronounced! Here's a breakdown:

The Correct Pronunciation (British English):

  • pro-GRAM (rhymes with "ogram")

Let's break it down further:

  • pro: Pronounced like the word "pro" in "promotion" – a short, crisp "pro" sound.
  • GRAM: This is the key! It’s pronounced like the word "gram" (as in "gram of sugar") – short and sharp.

American English Pronunciation:

  • pro-GRAM (rhymes with "program")

American English tends to pronounce it much closer to the "program" spelling.

Tips for both pronunciations:

  • Stress: The stress is on the second syllable: "GRAM".
  • Don't say "a" in "programme": Many people automatically insert an "a" sound, but it's not there! Think "pro-GRAM".
  • Don't over-elongate: Keep it punchy and quick.

Resources to Hear the Pronunciation:

  • Google Translate: Type "programme" into Google Translate and click the speaker icon.
  • YouGlish: https://youglish.com/ – Type in "programme" and it will show you how native speakers pronounce it in real-world videos.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/programme/ – A website with pronunciations from native speakers across the world.

To help me tailor my explanation even further, would you like to:

  • Specify which English dialect you're interested in (British or American)?

Usage and examples with the word programme in English

Let's break down how to use "programme" in English. It's a tricky word because it's spelled the same way in British English and American English, but its meaning and usage differ significantly.

1. British English (Most Common in the UK)

  • Meaning: In British English, "programme" almost always means a planned set of events or activities, usually for a specific purpose. It's closer to what Americans would call a "schedule" or "plan."

  • Examples:

    • "I've got a busy programme of events for the weekend." (Activities)
    • "The television programme started at 7 pm." (Broadcast)
    • "The school's summer programme included music lessons and sports." (Activities)
    • "The programme for the conference was packed with interesting speakers." (Schedule)

2. American English (Most Common in the US)

  • Meaning: In American English, "programme" almost always means a computer program – a set of instructions that a computer follows to perform a task. It's equivalent to "program."

  • Examples:

    • "I need to write a programme to sort these files." (Computer code)
    • "He's developing a new programme for the software." (Software application)
    • "This programme crashes frequently." (Computer application)

3. Rare Cases - A Shared Meaning (Both UK & US)

  • Occasionally, especially in formal contexts, you might see "programme" used to refer to a theatrical performance or stage show. This usage is much less common in both American and British English.

    • "The theatre's programme listed all the upcoming performances." (Play/Show)

Here's a table summarizing the differences:

Language Meaning Example
British Planned Events "The TV programme was excellent."
American Computer Program "I wrote a programme in Python."
Both (Rare) Stage Show "Check the programme for times."

Key takeaway: Pay close attention to the context to understand whether someone is talking about a list of events or a computer program.

Resources for Further Learning:

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

  • Where did you encounter the word "programme"? (e.g., in a book, a conversation, a news article)
  • What was the context of the sentence in which you saw it?

Synonyms for the word programme

Idioms of the word programme

get with the programme
(informal)used to tell somebody that they should change their attitude and do what they are supposed to be doing

    Practice with vocabulary programme

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. The university's new mentorship _______ aims to connect experienced alumni with current students.
    2. The development team is working late to debug the core _______ for the new operating system.
    3. Before the conference, attendees received a detailed _______ outlining all the sessions and speakers.
    4. The company decided to launch a major marketing _______ to boost its brand awareness.

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (Multiple answers may be correct)

    1. Which of the following terms can describe a structured plan of activities, events, or content, often with a specific duration or purpose? a) agenda b) programme c) schedule d) curriculum

    2. If you are watching television, which of these words can refer to the show currently being broadcast? a) broadcast b) programme c) series d) episode

    3. Which of these words can be used to describe a set of instructions for a computer to perform a task? a) application b) programme c) software d) operating system

    4. Which term refers to a systematic approach or a standard way of doing something, especially in a professional setting? a) protocol b) procedure c) custom d) guideline

    5. Which of these words describes a list of topics to be covered during a meeting or discussion? a) minutes b) agenda c) summary d) brief

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. Original: The government introduced a nationwide initiative to promote digital literacy among adults. Rewrite the sentence using "programme".

    2. Original: Our company is developing a new software application to manage client interactions more efficiently. Rewrite the sentence using "programme" or a related word form.

    3. Original: The detailed listing of topics and speakers for the upcoming conference was sent out yesterday. Rewrite the sentence without using "programme", using a suitable replacement word.

    Answer:

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. programme
    2. programme
    3. agenda
    4. campaign

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

    1. b) programme, c) schedule, d) curriculum
    2. b) programme, c) series, d) episode
    3. a) application, b) programme, c) software
    4. a) protocol, b) procedure, d) guideline
    5. b) agenda

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. The government introduced a nationwide programme to promote digital literacy among adults.
    2. Our company is developing a new computer programme to manage client interactions more efficiently.
    3. The detailed agenda for the upcoming conference was sent out yesterday.

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