How to pronounce lapidary
Say it like LAP-uh-der-ee. Lapidary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lapidary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LAP
- uh
- der
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lapidary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LAPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- derGive this part a little weight. 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 lapidary
American and British speakers say lapidary in essentially the same way: /ˈlæpəˌdɛri/ in the US and /ˈlæpɪdəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: LAP-ih-duh-ree.
What does lapidary mean?
- A person who cuts and polishes, engraves, or deals in gems and precious stones.
- The field in which such a person works, a subfield of gemology.
- Of or pertaining to gems and precious stones, or the art of cutting or otherwise working them.
- Of or pertaining to monumental stones, and particularly to the art of inscribing them.
- engraved on stone.
Where does lapidary come from?
Adjective sense 6 (“succint”) is by metaphor: the speaker or writer has cut and polished their locution, as it were.
Questions about saying lapidary
How do you pronounce lapidary?
Say LAP-uh-der-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈlæpəˌdɛri/. In British English it is /ˈlæpɪdəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lapidary?
Lapidary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAP). Broken into parts: LAP · uh · der · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say lapidary the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlæpəˌdɛri/ and the British form is /ˈlæpɪdəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.