How to pronounce military
Say it like MIL-uh-ter-ee. Military has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce military. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MIL
- uh
- ter
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Military pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- terGive 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 military
American and British speakers say military in essentially the same way: /ˈmɪləˌtɛri/ in the US and /ˈmɪlɪtəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: MIL-ih-tuh-ree.
What does military mean?
- of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare“military law”
- characteristic of or associated with soldiers or the military“military uniforms”
- associated with or performed by members of the armed services as contrasted with civilians“military police”
- the military forces of a nation“their military is the largest in the region”“the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker”
Where does military come from?
From Middle English militari, from Old French militaire, from Latin mīlitāris, from mīles (“soldier”) + -āris (whence -ary).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying military
How do you pronounce military?
Say MIL-uh-ter-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɪləˌtɛri/. In British English it is /ˈmɪlɪtəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in military?
Military has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MIL). Broken into parts: MIL · uh · ter · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say military the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmɪləˌtɛri/ and the British form is /ˈmɪlɪtəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.