How to pronounce audacity
Say it like ah-DAS-uh-tee. Audacity has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (DAS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce audacity. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ah
- DAS
- uh
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Audacity pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ahKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- DASSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of audacity
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: aw-DAS-ih-tee.
What does audacity mean?
- Insolent boldness, especially when imprudent or unconventional.“The brash private had the audacity to criticize the general.”
- Fearlessness, intrepidity or daring, especially with confident disregard for personal safety, conventional thought, or other restrictions.
Where does audacity come from?
From Middle English audacite, from Medieval Latin audācitās (whence -acity), from Latin audāx (“bold”), from audeō (“to be bold, to dare”).
Words that rhyme with audacity
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of audacity.
Questions about saying audacity
How do you pronounce audacity?
Say ah-DAS-uh-tee. The American pronunciation is /ɑˈdæsəti/. In British English it is /ɔːˈdæsɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in audacity?
Audacity has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (DAS). Broken into parts: ah · DAS · uh · tee.
Is audacity 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 /ɔːˈdæsɪti/ (aw-DAS-ih-tee).