How to pronounce asperity
Say it like uh-SPER-ih-tee. Asperity has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce asperity. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- SPER
- ih
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Asperity 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.
- SPERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of asperity
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: uh-SPER-ih-tee.
What does asperity mean?
- The quality of having a rough or uneven surface; roughness, unevenness; (countable, chiefly in the plural) a protruding or rough area or point on a surface; a protrusion.
- A section of a fault line with high friction, such that there is no movement along this part of the fault except during an earthquake.
- The quality of being difficult or unpleasant to experience; (countable) a thing that is harsh and difficult to endure; a difficulty, a hardship.“the asperity of Maine’s winter”
Where does asperity come from?
From Middle English asprete, asperite, from Old French aspreté (modern French âpreté), from Latin asperitātem, the accusative singular of asperitās (“roughness, unevenness; fierceness, severity; harshness, sharpness; acidity, tartness”), fr
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with asperity
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of asperity.
Questions about saying asperity
How do you pronounce asperity?
Say uh-SPER-ih-tee. The American pronunciation is /əˈspɛrɪti/. In British English it is /əˈspɛrɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in asperity?
Asperity has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPER). Broken into parts: uh · SPER · ih · tee.
Is asperity pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /əˈspɛrɪti/ (uh-SPER-ih-tee).