How to pronounce paternity
Say it like puh-TUR-nih-tee. Paternity has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce paternity. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- puh
- TUR
- nih
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Paternity pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- puhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- nihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of paternity
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: puh-TUR-nih-tee.
What does paternity mean?
- Fatherhood, the state or quality of being a father.
- Parental descent from a father.
- Legal acknowledgement of a man's fatherhood of a child.
Where does paternity come from?
From Middle French paternité, from Old French, from Latin paternitās (“paternity”), from paternus (“of or pertaining to a father, paternal”) + -itās, from pater (“father”).
Words that rhyme with paternity
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of paternity.
Questions about saying paternity
How do you pronounce paternity?
Say puh-TUR-nih-tee. The American pronunciation is /pəˈtɝnɪti/. In British English it is /pəˈtɜːnɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in paternity?
Paternity has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TUR). Broken into parts: puh · TUR · nih · tee.
Is paternity 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 /pəˈtɜːnɪti/ (puh-TUR-nih-tee).