How to pronounce asinine
Say it like AS-ih-nyne. Asinine has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce asinine. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AS
- ih
- nyne
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Asinine pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ASSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- nyneKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of asinine
American and British speakers say asinine in essentially the same way: /ˈæsɪnaɪn/ in the US and /ˈæsɪnaɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: AS-ih-nyne.
What does asinine mean?
- Very foolish; failing to exercise intelligence or judgment or rationality.
- Characteristic of an ass (an asshole): objectionably inconsiderate or jerky.
- Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of donkeys.
Where does asinine come from?
From Latin asinīnus (“of a donkey or ass”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying asinine
How do you pronounce asinine?
Say AS-ih-nyne. The American pronunciation is /ˈæsɪnaɪn/. In British English it is /ˈæsɪnaɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in asinine?
Asinine has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AS). Broken into parts: AS · ih · nyne.
Do Americans and Brits say asinine the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈæsɪnaɪn/ and the British form is /ˈæsɪnaɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.