How to pronounce fortunate
Say it like FOR-chuh-nut. Fortunate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOR).
- FOR
- chuh
- nut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fortunate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- chuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- nutKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of fortunate
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FAW-chuh-nit.
What does fortunate mean?
- having unexpected good fortune“other, less fortunate, children died”“a fortunate choice”
- supremely favored“golden lads and girls all must / like chimney sweepers come to dust”“fortunate son”
- presaging good fortune“she made a fortunate decision to go to medical school”“rosy predictions”
Where does fortunate come from?
From Middle English fortunat(e) (“fortunate”), from Latin fortūnātus, from fortūna (“fortune, luck”) + -ātus (adjective-forming suffix), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying fortunate
How do you pronounce fortunate?
Say FOR-chuh-nut. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɔrtʃənət/. In British English it is /ˈfɔːtʃənɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fortunate?
Fortunate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOR). Broken into parts: FOR · chuh · nut.
Is fortunate 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 /ˈfɔːtʃənɪt/ (FAW-chuh-nit).