How to pronounce legionary
Say it like LEE-juh-ner-ee. Legionary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce legionary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LEE
- juh
- ner
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Legionary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- juhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- nerGive 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 legionary
American and British speakers say legionary in essentially the same way: /ˈlidʒəˌnɛri/ in the US and /ˈliːdʒənəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: LEE-juh-nuh-ree.
What does legionary mean?
- A soldier belonging to a legion; a professional soldier of the ancient Roman army.
- A person who is neither a citizen nor colonial/imperial subject of the state whose military they join.
- A member of a legion, such as the American Legion, or of any organization containing the term legion in its title (e.g. the French Foreign Legion).
- Relating to, or consisting of, a legion or legions.
- Containing a great number.
Where does legionary come from?
From legion + -ary. From Latin legiōnārius.
Questions about saying legionary
How do you pronounce legionary?
Say LEE-juh-ner-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈlidʒəˌnɛri/. In British English it is /ˈliːdʒənəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in legionary?
Legionary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LEE). Broken into parts: LEE · juh · ner · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say legionary the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlidʒəˌnɛri/ and the British form is /ˈliːdʒənəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.