How to pronounce fraternity
Say it like fruh-TUR-nuh-tee. Fraternity has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce fraternity. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- fruh
- TUR
- nuh
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fraternity pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- fruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of fraternity
- 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: fruh-TUR-nih-tee.
What does fraternity mean?
- a social club for male undergraduates
- people engaged in a particular occupation“the medical fraternity”
Where does fraternity come from?
From Middle English fraternite, borrowed from Old French fraternité, from Latin frāternitās, ultimately from frāter (“brother”).
Words that rhyme with fraternity
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of fraternity.
Questions about saying fraternity
How do you pronounce fraternity?
Say fruh-TUR-nuh-tee. The American pronunciation is /frəˈtɝnəti/. In British English it is /frəˈtɜːnɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fraternity?
Fraternity has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TUR). Broken into parts: fruh · TUR · nuh · tee.
Is fraternity 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 /frəˈtɜːnɪti/ (fruh-TUR-nih-tee).