How to pronounce intercalary
Say it like in-ter-KAL-er-ee. Intercalary has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (KAL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce intercalary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- ter
- KAL
- er
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Intercalary 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.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- KALSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of intercalary
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: in-tuh-KAL-uh-ee.
What does intercalary mean?
- Describing a time period inserted between others; leap, (as in leap day, leap month, or leap year)
- Inserted between other things
- of a meristem: situated between zones of permanent tissue, thus a shoot growing at the base of a leaf, in comparison with apical growth at the tip of a root or plant.
- Such a time period
Where does intercalary come from?
From Latin intercalārius, from intercalāris, from intercalō, from inter (“among”) + calō (“call out, proclaim”).
Questions about saying intercalary
How do you pronounce intercalary?
Say in-ter-KAL-er-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪntɚˈkælɚi/. In British English it is /ˌɪntəˈkæləi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in intercalary?
Intercalary has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (KAL). Broken into parts: in · ter · KAL · er · ee.
Is intercalary pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌɪntəˈkæləi/ (in-tuh-KAL-uh-ee).