How to pronounce mortify
Say it like MOR-tih-fy. Mortify has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mortify. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MOR
- tih
- fy
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mortify pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- tihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- fyKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of mortify
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MAW-tih-fy.
What does mortify mean?
- To discipline (one's body, appetites etc.) by suppressing desires; to practise abstinence on.“Some people seek sainthood by mortifying the body.”
- To injure the dignity of; to embarrass; to humiliate.“I was so mortified I could have died right there; instead I fainted, but I swore I'd never let that happen to me again.”
- To affect with vexation or chagrin.“He seemed to enjoy mortifying them with news of every fresh hell loosed in the capital.”
Where does mortify come from?
From Anglo-Norman mortifier, Middle French mortifier, from Late Latin mortificō (“cause death”), from Latin mors (“death”) + -ficō (“-fy”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying mortify
How do you pronounce mortify?
Say MOR-tih-fy. The American pronunciation is /ˈmoʊrtɪfaɪ/. In British English it is /ˈmɔːtɪfaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mortify?
Mortify has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOR). Broken into parts: MOR · tih · fy.
Is mortify 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 /ˈmɔːtɪfaɪ/ (MAW-tih-fy).