How to pronounce gratuitous
Say it like gruh-TOO-ih-tus. Gratuitous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce gratuitous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- gruh
- TOO
- ih
- tus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Gratuitous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- gruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- tusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of gratuitous
- British speakers add a light "y" sound before the "oo" (as in "tyoon" for tune).
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: gruh-TYOO-ih-tus.
What does gratuitous mean?
- Given freely; unearned.
- Unjustified or unnecessary; not called for by the circumstances.“gratuitous violence”
- extraneous, interpolated.
Where does gratuitous come from?
From Latin grātuītus (“free”), from Latin grātia (“favor”), grātus (“showing favor”).
Questions about saying gratuitous
How do you pronounce gratuitous?
Say gruh-TOO-ih-tus. The American pronunciation is /ɡrəˈtuɪtəs/. In British English it is /ɡrəˈtjuːɪtəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in gratuitous?
Gratuitous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TOO). Broken into parts: gruh · TOO · ih · tus.
Is gratuitous pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. British speakers add a light "y" sound before the "oo" (as in "tyoon" for tune). The British form is /ɡrəˈtjuːɪtəs/ (gruh-TYOO-ih-tus).