How to pronounce fortuitous
Say it like for-TYOO-uh-tus. Fortuitous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TYOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce fortuitous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- for
- TYOO
- uh
- tus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fortuitous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- forKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- TYOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- tusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of fortuitous
- 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: faw-TYOO-ih-tus.
What does fortuitous mean?
- Happening by fortune or chance; accidental, coincidental.
- Happening by good fortune or success; fortunate, lucky.
- Happening independently of human control; uncontrollable.
Where does fortuitous come from?
Learned borrowing from Latin fortuītus (“happening by chance, accidental, random, fortuitous”), from *fortu- (“chance, fortune, luck”) + -ītus (suffix forming adjectives).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with fortuitous
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of fortuitous.
Questions about saying fortuitous
How do you pronounce fortuitous?
Say for-TYOO-uh-tus. The American pronunciation is /foʊrˈtjuətəs/. In British English it is /fɔːˈtjuːɪtəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fortuitous?
Fortuitous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TYOO). Broken into parts: for · TYOO · uh · tus.
Is fortuitous 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 /fɔːˈtjuːɪtəs/ (faw-TYOO-ih-tus).