How to pronounce centenary
Say it like SEN-tuh-ner-ee. Centenary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce centenary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SEN
- tuh
- ner
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Centenary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tuhKeep 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 centenary
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2.
British respelling: sen-TEE-nuh-ree.
What does centenary mean?
- Occurring every 100 years.
- Lasting or aged 100 years, 100-year-old.
- Synonym of centennial: a hundredth anniversary.
- Synonym of hundredweight, especially (historical) in Greek and Roman contexts.
Where does centenary come from?
From Latin centēnārius (“containing 100; local official overseeing a hundred”), either directly or through French centenaire from centēnī (“100 each”) + -ārius (-ary), from centum (“hundred”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying centenary
How do you pronounce centenary?
Say SEN-tuh-ner-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɛntəˌnɛri/. In British English it is /sɛnˈtiːnəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in centenary?
Centenary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEN). Broken into parts: SEN · tuh · ner · ee.
Is centenary pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2. The British form is /sɛnˈtiːnəri/ (sen-TEE-nuh-ree).