How to pronounce hostility
Say it like ho-STIL-uh-tee. Hostility 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 hostility. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ho
- STIL
- uh
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hostility 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.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of hostility
- 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-tee.
What does hostility mean?
- a hostile (very unfriendly) disposition“he could not conceal his hostility”
- a state of deep-seated ill-will
- the feeling of a hostile person“he could no longer contain his hostility”
Where does hostility come from?
From Middle English hostilitie, hostilite, from Old French hostilité, from Latin hostīlitās.
Words that rhyme with hostility
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hostility.
- ability
- responsibility
- possibility
- utility
- availability
- capability
- mobility
- flexibility
- probability
- reliability
Questions about saying hostility
How do you pronounce hostility?
Say ho-STIL-uh-tee. The American pronunciation is /hɑˈstɪləti/. In British English it is /hɒˈstɪlɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hostility?
Hostility has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STIL). Broken into parts: ho · STIL · uh · tee.
Is hostility 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 /hɒˈstɪlɪti/ (ho-STIL-ih-tee).