How to pronounce cautionary
Say it like KAW-shuh-ner-ee. Cautionary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cautionary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAW
- shuh
- ner
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cautionary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KAWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- shuhKeep 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 cautionary
American and British speakers say cautionary in essentially the same way: /ˈkɔʃəˌnɛri/ in the US and /ˈkɔːʃənəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: KAW-shuh-nuh-ree.
What does cautionary mean?
- Serving to caution or warn; admonitory“Most parents were optimistic, but others sounded a cautionary note.”
- Serving to ward off; preventive
Where does cautionary come from?
Borrowed from Medieval Latin cautiōnārius.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying cautionary
How do you pronounce cautionary?
Say KAW-shuh-ner-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɔʃəˌnɛri/. In British English it is /ˈkɔːʃənəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cautionary?
Cautionary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAW). Broken into parts: KAW · shuh · ner · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say cautionary the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkɔʃəˌnɛri/ and the British form is /ˈkɔːʃənəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.