How to pronounce modify
Say it like MOD-uh-fy. Modify has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce modify. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MOD
- uh
- fy
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Modify pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MODSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- fyGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of modify
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: MOD-ih-fy.
What does modify mean?
- make less severe or harsh or extreme“please modify this letter to make it more polite”“he modified his views on same-gender marriage”
- add a modifier to a constituent
- cause to change; make different; cause a transformation“The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city”“The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue”
Where does modify come from?
From Middle English modifien, from Middle French modifier, from Latin modificare (“to limit, control, regulate, deponent”), from modificari (“to measure off, set bound to, moderate”), from modus (“measure”) + facere (“to make”); see mode.
Questions about saying modify
How do you pronounce modify?
Say MOD-uh-fy. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɑdəˌfaɪ/. In British English it is /ˈmɒdɪˌfaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in modify?
Modify has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOD). Broken into parts: MOD · uh · fy.
Is modify 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 /ˈmɒdɪˌfaɪ/ (MOD-ih-fy).