How to pronounce ordinary
Say it like OR-duh-ner-ee. Ordinary 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 ordinary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OR
- duh
- ner
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ordinary 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.
- duhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- nerGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of ordinary
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: AW-dih-nuh-ree.
What does ordinary mean?
- a judge of a probate court
- the expected or commonplace condition or situation“not out of the ordinary”
- a clergyman appointed to prepare condemned prisoners for death
- not exceptional in any way especially in quality or ability or size or degree“ordinary everyday objects”“ordinary decency”
- lacking special distinction, rank, or status; commonly encountered“average people”“the ordinary (or common) man in the street”
Where does ordinary come from?
From Anglo-Norman ordenarie, ordenaire et al., Middle French ordinaire, and their source, Medieval Latin ordinarius, noun use of Latin ōrdinārius (“regular, orderly”), from ōrdō (“order”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying ordinary
How do you pronounce ordinary?
Say OR-duh-ner-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈɔrdəˌnɛri/. In British English it is /ˈɔːdɪnəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ordinary?
Ordinary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OR). Broken into parts: OR · duh · ner · ee.
Is ordinary 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 /ˈɔːdɪnəri/ (AW-dih-nuh-ree).