How to pronounce fundamental
Say it like fuhn-duh-MEN-tul. Fundamental has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (MEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce fundamental. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- fuhn
- duh
- MEN
- tul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fundamental pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- fuhnGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- duhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- MENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of fundamental
American and British speakers say fundamental in essentially the same way: /ˌfʌndəˈmɛntəl/ in the US and /ˌfʌndəˈmɛntəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: fuhn-duh-MEN-tul.
What does fundamental mean?
- serving as an essential component“a cardinal rule”“the central cause of the problem”
- being or involving basic facts or principles“the fundamental laws of the universe”“a fundamental incompatibility between them”
- far-reaching and thoroughgoing in effect especially on the nature of something“the fundamental revolution in human values that has occurred”“the book underwent fundamental changes”
- any factor that could be considered important to the understanding of a particular business“fundamentals include a company's growth, revenues, earnings, management, and capital structure”
- the lowest tone of a harmonic series
Where does fundamental come from?
From Middle English foundamental, fundamental, from Late Latin fundāmentālis, from Latin fundāmentum (“foundation”), from fundō (“to lay the foundation (of something), to found”), from fundus (“bottom”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰudʰmḗn.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with fundamental
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of fundamental.
Questions about saying fundamental
How do you pronounce fundamental?
Say fuhn-duh-MEN-tul. The American pronunciation is /ˌfʌndəˈmɛntəl/. In British English it is /ˌfʌndəˈmɛntəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fundamental?
Fundamental has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (MEN). Broken into parts: fuhn · duh · MEN · tul.
Do Americans and Brits say fundamental the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌfʌndəˈmɛntəl/ and the British form is /ˌfʌndəˈmɛntəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.