How to pronounce illiteracy
Say it like il-IT-uh-ruh-see. Illiteracy has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (IT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce illiteracy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- il
- IT
- uh
- ruh
- see
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Illiteracy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ilGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ITSay 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.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- seeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of illiteracy
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: il-IT-uh-ruh-see.
What does illiteracy mean?
- The inability to read and write.“Illiteracy is widespread in certain areas of the country.”
- The portion of a population unable to read and write, generally given as a percentage.
- A word, phrase, or grammatical turn thought to be characteristic of an illiterate person.
Where does illiteracy come from?
From il- + literacy.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying illiteracy
How do you pronounce illiteracy?
Say il-IT-uh-ruh-see. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪˈlɪtərəsi/. In British English it is /ˌɪˈlɪtərəsi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in illiteracy?
Illiteracy has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (IT). Broken into parts: il · IT · uh · ruh · see.
Is illiteracy 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 /ˌɪˈlɪtərəsi/ (il-IT-uh-ruh-see).