How to pronounce opportunistic
Say it like op-er-too-NIS-tik. Opportunistic has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (NIS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce opportunistic. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- op
- er
- too
- NIS
- tik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Opportunistic pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- opGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- tooGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- NISSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- tikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of opportunistic
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- British speakers add a light "y" sound before the "oo" (as in "tyoon" for tune).
British respelling: op-uh-tyoo-NIS-tik.
What does opportunistic mean?
- Taking advantage of situations that arise.“The danger now isn't so much from the AIDS virus itself as from opportunistic infections.”
- Taking advantage of situations to advance one's own interests without regard for moral principles.“You can't trust somebody that opportunistic: he'll stab you in the back the first chance he gets.”
Where does opportunistic come from?
From opportunist + -ic.
Words that rhyme with opportunistic
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of opportunistic.
Questions about saying opportunistic
How do you pronounce opportunistic?
Say op-er-too-NIS-tik. The American pronunciation is /ˌɑpɚˌtuˈnɪstɪk/. In British English it is /ˌɒpəˌtjuːˈnɪstɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in opportunistic?
Opportunistic has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (NIS). Broken into parts: op · er · too · NIS · tik.
Is opportunistic 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 /ˌɒpəˌtjuːˈnɪstɪk/ (op-uh-tyoo-NIS-tik).