How to pronounce opportunity
Say it like op-er-TOO-nuh-tee. Opportunity has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce opportunity. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- op
- er
- TOO
- nuh
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Opportunity 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.
- TOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- nuhKeep 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 opportunity
- 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).
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: op-uh-TYOO-nih-tee.
What does opportunity mean?
- a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances“the holiday gave us the opportunity to visit Washington”“now is your chance”
Where does opportunity come from?
From opportune + -ity, from Middle French opportunité, from Latin opportūnitās.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with opportunity
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of opportunity.
Questions about saying opportunity
How do you pronounce opportunity?
Say op-er-TOO-nuh-tee. The American pronunciation is /ˌɑpɚˈtunəti/. In British English it is /ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in opportunity?
Opportunity has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TOO). Broken into parts: op · er · TOO · nuh · tee.
Is opportunity 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 /ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪti/ (op-uh-TYOO-nih-tee).