How to pronounce catenary
Say it like KAT-uh-ner-ee. Catenary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce catenary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAT
- uh
- ner
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Catenary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KATSay 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.
- nerGive this part a little weight. 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 catenary
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: kuh-TEE-nuh-ree.
What does catenary mean?
- Relating to a chain; like a chain.
- Relating to a catena.
- The curve described by a flexible chain or a rope if it is supported at each end and is acted upon by no other forces than a uniform gravitational force due to its own weight and variations involving additional and non-uniform forces. It is described by the hyperbolic cosine function.
- Any physical cable, rope, chain, or other weight-supporting structure taking such geometric shape, as a suspension cable for a bridge or a power-transmission line or an arch for a bridge or roof.
- The curve of an anchor cable from the seabed to the vessel; it should be horizontal at the anchor so as to bury the flukes.
Where does catenary come from?
From Latin catenarius, from Latin catēna (“chain”).
Questions about saying catenary
How do you pronounce catenary?
Say KAT-uh-ner-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈkætəˌnɛri/. In British English it is /kəˈtiːnəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in catenary?
Catenary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAT). Broken into parts: KAT · uh · ner · ee.
Is catenary pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2. The British form is /kəˈtiːnəri/ (kuh-TEE-nuh-ree).