How to pronounce necessity
Say it like nuh-SES-uh-tee. Necessity has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce necessity. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- nuh
- SES
- uh
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Necessity pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- SESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep 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 necessity
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: nih-SES-ih-tee.
What does necessity mean?
- the condition of being essential or indispensable
- anything indispensable“food and shelter are necessities of life”“the essentials of the good life”
Where does necessity come from?
From Middle English necessite, from Old French necessite, from Latin necessitās (“unavoidableness, compulsion, exigency, necessity”), from necesse (“unavoidable, inevitable”); see necessary.
Questions about saying necessity
How do you pronounce necessity?
Say nuh-SES-uh-tee. The American pronunciation is /nəˈsɛsəti/. In British English it is /nɪˈsɛsɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in necessity?
Necessity has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SES). Broken into parts: nuh · SES · uh · tee.
Is necessity pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /nɪˈsɛsɪti/ (nih-SES-ih-tee).