How to pronounce fertilize
Say it like FUR-tuh-lyze. Fertilize has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce fertilize. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FUR
- tuh
- lyze
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fertilize pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- lyzeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of fertilize
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: FUR-tuh-lyze.
What does fertilize mean?
- To make (the soil) more fertile by adding nutrients to it.
- To make more creative or intellectually productive.“to fertilize one's imagination”
- To cause to produce offspring through insemination; to inseminate.
Where does fertilize come from?
From French fertilizer; equivalent to fertile + -ize.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying fertilize
How do you pronounce fertilize?
Say FUR-tuh-lyze. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɝtəˌlaɪz/. In British English it is /ˈfɜːtəˌlaɪz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fertilize?
Fertilize has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FUR). Broken into parts: FUR · tuh · lyze.
Is fertilize 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 /ˈfɜːtəˌlaɪz/ (FUR-tuh-lyze).