How to pronounce occupy
Say it like OK-yuh-py. Occupy has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce occupy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OK
- yuh
- py
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Occupy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- yuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- pyGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of occupy
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: OK-yuh-py.
What does occupy mean?
- keep busy with“She busies herself with her butterfly collection”
- live (in a certain place)“She resides in Princeton”“he occupies two rooms on the top floor”
- occupy the whole of“The liquid fills the container”
Where does occupy come from?
From Middle English occupien, occupyen, borrowed from Old French occuper, from Latin occupāre (“to take possession of, seize, occupy, take up, employ”), from ob (“to, on”) + capiō (“to take”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap- (“to seize, grab”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying occupy
How do you pronounce occupy?
Say OK-yuh-py. The American pronunciation is /ˈɑkjəˌpaɪ/. In British English it is /ˈɒkjʊˌpaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in occupy?
Occupy has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OK). Broken into parts: OK · yuh · py.
Is occupy 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 /ˈɒkjʊˌpaɪ/ (OK-yuh-py).