How to pronounce intermediary
Say it like in-er-MEE-dee-er-ee. Intermediary has six syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (MEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce intermediary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- er
- MEE
- dee
- er
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Intermediary 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.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- MEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- deeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of intermediary
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: in-tuh-MEE-dee-uh-ree.
What does intermediary mean?
- That intermediates.
- An agent acting as a mediator between sides to facilitate agreement or cooperation.
- A person or organization in an intermediate position (in a transaction, agreement, supply chain, etc.)“The intermediary between the manufacturer and retailer is the wholesaler”
- One or several stages of an event which occurs after the start and before the end.
Where does intermediary come from?
From French intermédiaire, adjusted to simulate a borrowing from Medieval Latin *intermediārius.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying intermediary
How do you pronounce intermediary?
Say in-er-MEE-dee-er-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪnɚˈmidiɛri/. In British English it is /ˌɪntəˈmiːdiəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in intermediary?
Intermediary has six syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (MEE). Broken into parts: in · er · MEE · dee · er · ee.
Is intermediary 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 /ˌɪntəˈmiːdiəri/ (in-tuh-MEE-dee-uh-ree).