How to pronounce official
Say it like uh-FISH-ul. Official has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FISH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce official. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- FISH
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Official pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- FISHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of official
American and British speakers say official in essentially the same way: /əˈfɪʃəl/ in the US and /əˈfɪʃəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-FISH-ul.
What does official mean?
- having official authority or sanction“official permission”“an official representative”
- of or relating to an office“official privileges”
- verified officially“the election returns are now official”
- a worker who holds or is invested with an office
- someone who administers the rules of a game or sport“the golfer asked for an official who could give him a ruling”
Where does official come from?
From Middle English official, from Old French official, from Latin officiālis, from Latin officium (“duty, service”), by surface analysis, office + -ial.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with official
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of official.
Questions about saying official
How do you pronounce official?
Say uh-FISH-ul. The American pronunciation is /əˈfɪʃəl/. In British English it is /əˈfɪʃəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in official?
Official has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FISH). Broken into parts: uh · FISH · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say official the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈfɪʃəl/ and the British form is /əˈfɪʃəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.