How to pronounce inquiry
Say it like in-KWY-ree. Inquiry has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KWY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce inquiry. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- KWY
- ree
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Inquiry 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.
- KWYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- reeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of inquiry
American and British speakers say inquiry in essentially the same way: /ˌɪnˈkwaɪˌri/ in the US and /ɪnˈkwaɪri/ in the UK.
British respelling: in-KWY-ree.
What does inquiry mean?
- a search for knowledge“their pottery deserves more research than it has received”
- an instance of questioning“there was a question about my training”“we made inquiries of all those who were present”
- a systematic investigation of a matter of public interest
Where does inquiry come from?
From Middle English enquery, from the Old French verb enquerre, from Latin inquīrō, composed of in- (“in, at, on; into”) + quaerō (“to seek, look for”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Italic *kʷaizeō, from Proto-Indo-European
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with inquiry
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of inquiry.
Words that sound like inquiry
Questions about saying inquiry
How do you pronounce inquiry?
Say in-KWY-ree. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪnˈkwaɪˌri/. In British English it is /ɪnˈkwaɪri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in inquiry?
Inquiry has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KWY). Broken into parts: in · KWY · ree.
Do Americans and Brits say inquiry the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪnˈkwaɪˌri/ and the British form is /ɪnˈkwaɪri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as inquiry?
Inquiry sounds the same as enquiry in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.