How to pronounce documentary
Say it like dah-kyuh-MEN-tuh-ree. Documentary has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (MEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce documentary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dah
- kyuh
- MEN
- tuh
- ree
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Documentary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- dahGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- kyuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- MENSay 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.
- reeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of documentary
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: dok-yuu-MEN-tuh-ree.
What does documentary mean?
- a film or TV program presenting the facts about a person or event
- relating to or consisting of or derived from documents
- (of film, television, radio, or photography) depicting a real-life event using images or interviews with people involved in the event
Where does documentary come from?
From French adjective and (hence) noun documentaire, from document, from Latin documentum.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with documentary
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of documentary.
Questions about saying documentary
How do you pronounce documentary?
Say dah-kyuh-MEN-tuh-ree. The American pronunciation is /ˌdɑkjəˈmɛntəri/. In British English it is /ˌdɒkjʊˈmɛntəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in documentary?
Documentary has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (MEN). Broken into parts: dah · kyuh · MEN · tuh · ree.
Is documentary pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˌdɒkjʊˈmɛntəri/ (dok-yuu-MEN-tuh-ree).