How to pronounce initial
Say it like in-ISH-ul. Initial has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ISH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce initial. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- ISH
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Initial pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- inGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ISHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of initial
American and British speakers say initial in essentially the same way: /ˌɪˈnɪʃəl/ in the US and /ɪˈnɪʃəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: ih-NISH-ul.
What does initial mean?
- occurring at the beginning“took the initial step toward reconciliation”
- the first letter of a word (especially a person's name)“he refused to put the initials FRS after his name”
- mark with one's initials
Where does initial come from?
From Middle French initial or directly from its Latin etymon initiālis (“of the beginning, incipient, initial”), from initium (“a going in, entrance”), from inīre (“to go into, enter”), from in (“in”) + ire (“to go”).
Words that rhyme with initial
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of initial.
Questions about saying initial
How do you pronounce initial?
Say in-ISH-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪˈnɪʃəl/. In British English it is /ɪˈnɪʃəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in initial?
Initial has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ISH). Broken into parts: in · ISH · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say initial the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪˈnɪʃəl/ and the British form is /ɪˈnɪʃəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.