How to pronounce family
Say it like FAM-uh-lee. Family has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FAM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce family. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FAM
- uh
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Family pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FAMSay 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.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of family
American and British speakers say family in essentially the same way: /ˈfæməli/ in the US and /ˈfæməli/ in the UK.
British respelling: FAM-uh-lee.
What does family mean?
- a social unit living together“he moved his family to Virginia”“It was a good Christian household”
- primary social group; parents and children“he wanted to have a good job before starting a family”
- a collection of things sharing a common attribute“there are two classes of detergents”
Where does family come from?
From Late Middle English famylye, from Latin familia (“a household”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying family
How do you pronounce family?
Say FAM-uh-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈfæməli/. In British English it is /ˈfæməli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in family?
Family has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FAM). Broken into parts: FAM · uh · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say family the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈfæməli/ and the British form is /ˈfæməli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.