How to pronounce hostilities
Say it like ho-STIL-uh-teez. Hostilities has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hostilities. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ho
- STIL
- uh
- teez
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hostilities pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- hoKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- STILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- teezKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of hostilities
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: ho-STIL-ih-teez.
What does hostilities mean?
Words that rhyme with hostilities
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hostilities.
Questions about saying hostilities
How do you pronounce hostilities?
Say ho-STIL-uh-teez. The American pronunciation is /hɑˈstɪlətiz/. In British English it is /hɒˈstɪlɪtiz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hostilities?
Hostilities has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STIL). Broken into parts: ho · STIL · uh · teez.
Is hostilities pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /hɒˈstɪlɪtiz/ (ho-STIL-ih-teez).