How to pronounce mercenary
Say it like MUR-suh-ner-ee. Mercenary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mercenary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MUR
- suh
- ner
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mercenary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- suhKeep 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 mercenary
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MUR-suh-nuh-ree.
What does mercenary mean?
- One motivated by gain, especially monetary.
- A person employed to fight in an armed conflict who is not a member of the state or military group for which they are fighting and whose primary motivation is private gain.
- One hired to engage in a figurative battle, as a corporate takeover, a lawsuit, or a political campaign.
- Motivated by personal gain.
Where does mercenary come from?
From Middle English mercenarye (“someone paid to work, hireling”), from Latin mercēnārius (“hired for money”), from mercēs (“reward, wages, price”).
Questions about saying mercenary
How do you pronounce mercenary?
Say MUR-suh-ner-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɝsəˌnɛri/. In British English it is /ˈmɜːsənəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mercenary?
Mercenary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MUR). Broken into parts: MUR · suh · ner · ee.
Is mercenary 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 /ˈmɜːsənəri/ (MUR-suh-nuh-ree).