How to pronounce penitentiaries
Say it like pen-ih-TEN-chuh-reez. Penitentiaries has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce penitentiaries. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pen
- ih
- TEN
- chuh
- reez
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Penitentiaries pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- penGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- TENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- chuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- reezKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of penitentiaries
American and British speakers say penitentiaries in essentially the same way: /ˌpɛnɪˈtɛntʃəriz/ in the US and /ˌpɛnɪˈtɛntʃəriz/ in the UK.
British respelling: pen-ih-TEN-chuh-reez.
What does penitentiaries mean?
- plural of penitentiary How to pronounce penitentiary
Questions about saying penitentiaries
How do you pronounce penitentiaries?
Say pen-ih-TEN-chuh-reez. The American pronunciation is /ˌpɛnɪˈtɛntʃəriz/. In British English it is /ˌpɛnɪˈtɛntʃəriz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in penitentiaries?
Penitentiaries has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TEN). Broken into parts: pen · ih · TEN · chuh · reez.
Do Americans and Brits say penitentiaries the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌpɛnɪˈtɛntʃəriz/ and the British form is /ˌpɛnɪˈtɛntʃəriz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.