How to pronounce oratory
Say it like OR-uh-tor-ee. Oratory has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce oratory. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OR
- uh
- tor
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oratory pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- torGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of oratory
American and British speakers say oratory in essentially the same way: /ˈɔrəˌtɔri/ in the US and /ˈɒrətəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: OR-uh-tuh-ree.
What does oratory mean?
- A private chapel or prayer room.
- A Roman Catholic chapel; a building for public or private worship that is not a parish church.
- A Catholic church belonging to the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri.
- The art of public speaking, especially in a formal, expressive, or forceful manner.
- Eloquence; the quality of artistry and persuasiveness in speech or writing.
Where does oratory come from?
From Middle English oratorie, from Anglo-Norman oratorie, Middle French oratoire, and their source, Late Latin ōrātōrium.
Questions about saying oratory
How do you pronounce oratory?
Say OR-uh-tor-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈɔrəˌtɔri/. In British English it is /ˈɒrətəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oratory?
Oratory has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OR). Broken into parts: OR · uh · tor · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say oratory the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɔrəˌtɔri/ and the British form is /ˈɒrətəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.