How to pronounce liberty
Say it like LIB-er-tee. Liberty has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIB).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce liberty. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LIB
- er
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Liberty pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LIBSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- teeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of liberty
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: LIB-uh-tee.
What does liberty mean?
- immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence
- freedom of choice“liberty of opinion”“liberty of worship”
- personal freedom from servitude or confinement or oppression
Where does liberty come from?
From Middle English liberte, from Old French liberté, from Latin libertas (“freedom”), from liber (“free”); see liberal.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying liberty
How do you pronounce liberty?
Say LIB-er-tee. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɪbɚˌti/. In British English it is /ˈlɪbəti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in liberty?
Liberty has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIB). Broken into parts: LIB · er · tee.
Is liberty 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 /ˈlɪbəti/ (LIB-uh-tee).