How to pronounce mediocrity
Say it like mee-dee-OK-ruh-tee. Mediocrity has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (OK).
- mee
- dee
- OK
- ruh
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mediocrity pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- meeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- deeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- OKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of mediocrity
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: mee-dih-OK-rih-tee.
What does mediocrity mean?
- The condition of being mediocre; having only an average degree of quality, skills etc.; no better than standard.“Flexibility is good, but a tolerance for mediocrity carried far enough impairs operational capacity.”
- A person with mediocre abilities or achievements.“populated with mediocrities”
Where does mediocrity come from?
From Middle French médiocrité, from Latin mediocritās, from mediocris; by surface analysis, mediocre + -ity.
Questions about saying mediocrity
How do you pronounce mediocrity?
Say mee-dee-OK-ruh-tee. The American pronunciation is /ˌmidiˈɑkrəti/. In British English it is /miːdɪˈɒkrɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mediocrity?
Mediocrity has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (OK). Broken into parts: mee · dee · OK · ruh · tee.
Is mediocrity pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /miːdɪˈɒkrɪti/ (mee-dih-OK-rih-tee).