How to pronounce certiorari
Say it like sur-shuh-RER-eye. Certiorari has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (RER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce certiorari. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- sur
- shuh
- RER
- eye
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Certiorari pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- surGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- shuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eyeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of certiorari
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: sur-shuh-RAIR-ry.
What does certiorari mean?
- A grant of the right of an appeal to be heard by an appellate court where that court has discretion to choose which appeals it will hear.
- A grant of review of a government action by a court with discretion to make such a review.
Where does certiorari come from?
From the present passive infinitive of Latin certiōrō (“to make certain”), from the words used at the beginning of these writs when they were written in Latin: certiorārī volumus (“[we] wish to be made certain”).
Questions about saying certiorari
How do you pronounce certiorari?
Say sur-shuh-RER-eye. The American pronunciation is /ˌsɝʃəˈrɛraɪ/. In British English it is /ˌsɜːʃəˈrɛəraɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in certiorari?
Certiorari has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (RER). Broken into parts: sur · shuh · RER · eye.
Is certiorari pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌsɜːʃəˈrɛəraɪ/ (sur-shuh-RAIR-ry).