How to pronounce adultery
Say it like uh-DUHL-tuh-ree. Adultery has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (DUHL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce adultery. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- DUHL
- tuh
- ree
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Adultery pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- DUHLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- reeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of adultery
American and British speakers say adultery in essentially the same way: /əˈdʌltəri/ in the US and /əˈdʌltəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-DUHL-tuh-ree.
What does adultery mean?
- Lewdness or unchastity of thought as well as act, as forbidden by the sixth/seventh commandment; sinful sexual behavior as a category.“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
- Faithlessness in religion.
- The intrusion of a person into a bishopric during the life of the bishop.
Where does adultery come from?
With change of suffix, from the Old French adultere (“violation of conjugal faith”) (in Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons, 12c.), a learnèd borrowing from Latin adulterium, from adulterō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- fornication
Questions about saying adultery
How do you pronounce adultery?
Say uh-DUHL-tuh-ree. The American pronunciation is /əˈdʌltəri/. In British English it is /əˈdʌltəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in adultery?
Adultery has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (DUHL). Broken into parts: uh · DUHL · tuh · ree.
Do Americans and Brits say adultery the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈdʌltəri/ and the British form is /əˈdʌltəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.