How to pronounce breviary
Say it like BREV-ee-er-ee. Breviary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BREV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce breviary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BREV
- ee
- er
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Breviary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BREVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of breviary
American and British speakers say breviary in essentially the same way: /ˈbrɛviɛri/ in the US and /ˈbrɛvɪəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: BREV-ih-uh-ree.
What does breviary mean?
- A book containing prayers, hymns, and so on for everyday use at the canonical hours.
Where does breviary come from?
From Latin breviārium (“summary”) (compare abbreviation), ultimately from brevis (“short”).
Questions about saying breviary
How do you pronounce breviary?
Say BREV-ee-er-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈbrɛviɛri/. In British English it is /ˈbrɛvɪəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in breviary?
Breviary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BREV). Broken into parts: BREV · ee · er · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say breviary the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbrɛviɛri/ and the British form is /ˈbrɛvɪəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.