How to pronounce maternity
Say it like muh-TUR-nih-tee. Maternity has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce maternity. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- muh
- TUR
- nih
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Maternity pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- muhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- nihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of maternity
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: muh-TUR-nih-tee.
What does maternity mean?
- the state of being pregnant; the period from conception to birth when a woman carries a developing fetus in her uterus
- the kinship relation between an offspring and the mother
- the quality of having or showing the tenderness and warmth and affection of or befitting a mother“the girl's motherliness made her invaluable in caring for the children”
Where does maternity come from?
From French maternité, from Latin māternitās.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with maternity
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of maternity.
Questions about saying maternity
How do you pronounce maternity?
Say muh-TUR-nih-tee. The American pronunciation is /məˈtɝnɪti/. In British English it is /məˈtɜːnɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in maternity?
Maternity has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TUR). Broken into parts: muh · TUR · nih · tee.
Is maternity 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 /məˈtɜːnɪti/ (muh-TUR-nih-tee).