Pronunciation: [pɜː mˈan] (IPA) 
The word "per man" is spelled with two distinct syllables, each with its accompanying phoneme. The first syllable, "per," is pronounced as /pər/, with a schwa sound as the vowel in the first position, followed by the phoneme /r/. The second syllable, "man," is pronounced as /mæn/, with the vowel sound /æ/ and consonant sound /n/. Together, the word "per man" is pronounced as /pər mæn/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet.
Per man is a term used to indicate the quantity or rate of something on an individual basis or per person. It is a unit of measurement that denotes the amount or allocation of a particular item, resource, or activity assigned to each individual in a group or team.
In various contexts, per man can be applied to determine the cost, consumption, or share of a specific commodity attributed to every person involved. For instance, in a business context, per man cost refers to the average expenditure or expense incurred by each worker in a project or operation. This metric helps assess the overall financial impact of the project while considering the number of individuals involved.
Similarly, per man hour measures the rate of productivity or service output achieved by an individual within an hour of work. It helps analyze efficiency, performance, and labor costs across different projects or tasks.
Outside of financial metrics, per man can also describe the distribution or division of resources, responsibilities, or benefits among individuals. It can be used to determine the portion of supplies distributed to each team member, the share of profits assigned to each partner in a business venture, or the allocation of duties within a group.
Overall, per man serves as a quantifiable benchmark utilized to measure, compare, and allocate resources, expenses, or outputs for individuals within a given context.
Each man.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The phrase per man does not have a specific etymology, as it is a combination of the Latin word per meaning through or by means of, and the English word man, referring to a human being. Per is a commonly used preposition in Latin, often used to indicate a rate, proportion, or effect. In the context of per man, it simply means by each individual or for each person.
