How to pronounce marriage
Say it like MER-ij. Marriage has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce marriage. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MER
- ij
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Marriage pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ijKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of marriage
American and British speakers say marriage in essentially the same way: /ˈmɛrɪdʒ/ in the US and /ˈmærɪdʒ/ in the UK.
British respelling: MAR-ij.
What does marriage mean?
- the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)“a long and happy marriage”“God bless this union”
- two people who are married to each other“his second marriage was happier than the first”“a married couple without love”
- the act of marrying; the nuptial ceremony“their marriage was conducted in the chapel”
Where does marriage come from?
From Middle English mariage, from Old French mariage, from marier (“to marry”), from Latin marītō (“marry”, verb, literally “give in marriage”), from marītus (“lover”, “nuptial”), from mas (“male, masculine, of the male sex”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying marriage
How do you pronounce marriage?
Say MER-ij. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɛrɪdʒ/. In British English it is /ˈmærɪdʒ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in marriage?
Marriage has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MER). Broken into parts: MER · ij.
Do Americans and Brits say marriage the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmɛrɪdʒ/ and the British form is /ˈmærɪdʒ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.