How to pronounce auxiliary
Say it like ahg-ZIL-yuh-ree. Auxiliary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce auxiliary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ahg
- ZIL
- yuh
- ree
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Auxiliary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ahgKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- ZILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- yuhKeep 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 auxiliary
American and British speakers say auxiliary in essentially the same way: /ɑɡˈzɪljəri/ in the US and /ɔːɡˈzɪljəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: awg-ZIL-yuh-ree.
What does auxiliary mean?
- someone who acts as assistant
- functioning in a supporting capacity“the main library and its auxiliary branches”
- furnishing added support“an ancillary pump”“an adjuvant discipline to forms of mysticism”
Where does auxiliary come from?
From Latin auxiliārius (“assistant, ally”), equiv.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying auxiliary
How do you pronounce auxiliary?
Say ahg-ZIL-yuh-ree. The American pronunciation is /ɑɡˈzɪljəri/. In British English it is /ɔːɡˈzɪljəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in auxiliary?
Auxiliary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZIL). Broken into parts: ahg · ZIL · yuh · ree.
Do Americans and Brits say auxiliary the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɑɡˈzɪljəri/ and the British form is /ɔːɡˈzɪljəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.