How to pronounce humility
Say it like hyoo-MIL-ih-tee. Humility has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce humility. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- hyoo
- MIL
- ih
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Humility pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- hyooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- MILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of humility
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: hyoo-MIL-ih-tee.
What does humility mean?
- a disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride“not everyone regards humility as a virtue”
- a humble feeling“he was filled with humility at the sight of the Pope”
Where does humility come from?
From Middle English humilite, from Old French (h)umilité, from Latin humilitas (“lowness, meanness, baseness, in Late Latin humility”), from humilis (“low, lowly, humble, earth”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with humility
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of humility.
- facility
- stability
- disability
- liability
- inability
- credibility
- visibility
- sustainability
- eligibility
- instability
Questions about saying humility
How do you pronounce humility?
Say hyoo-MIL-ih-tee. The American pronunciation is /hjuˈmɪlɪti/. In British English it is /hjuːˈmɪlɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in humility?
Humility has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MIL). Broken into parts: hyoo · MIL · ih · tee.
Is humility pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /hjuːˈmɪlɪti/ (hyoo-MIL-ih-tee).