How to pronounce involuntarily
Say it like in-vah-lun-TER-ih-lee. Involuntarily has six syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (TER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce involuntarily. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- vah
- lun
- TER
- ih
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Involuntarily pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- inKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- vahGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- lunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of involuntarily
- American English uses 6 syllables and British English 5.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: in-VOL-un-trih-lee.
What does involuntarily mean?
- In an involuntary manner; done without conscious thought.“Her leg twitched involuntarily.”
Where does involuntarily come from?
From involuntary + -ly or in- + voluntarily.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with involuntarily
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of involuntarily.
Questions about saying involuntarily
How do you pronounce involuntarily?
Say in-vah-lun-TER-ih-lee. The American pronunciation is /ɪnˌvɑlənˈtɛrɪli/. In British English it is /ɪnˈvɒləntrɪli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in involuntarily?
Involuntarily has six syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (TER). Broken into parts: in · vah · lun · TER · ih · lee.
Is involuntarily pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 6 syllables and British English 5. The British form is /ɪnˈvɒləntrɪli/ (in-VOL-un-trih-lee).