How to pronounce preferential
Say it like pref-uh-REN-shul. Preferential has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (REN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce preferential. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pref
- uh
- REN
- shul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Preferential pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- prefGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- shulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of preferential
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 3, while British speakers stress syllable 1.
British respelling: PREF-ur-en-shul.
What does preferential mean?
- Of or relating to the showing or giving of preference.“Club members received preferential seating.”
- Of or relating to a voting system in which the voters are allowed to indicate on their ballots their preference (usually their first and second choices) between two or more candidates, so that if no candidate receives a majority of first choices the one receiving the greatest number of first and sec“preferential voting; the preferential system”
Where does preferential come from?
From Medieval Latin preferentia + -al.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with preferential
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of preferential.
- potential
- essential
- presidential
- residential
- influential
- confidential
- differential
- existential
- exponential
- sequential
Questions about saying preferential
How do you pronounce preferential?
Say pref-uh-REN-shul. The American pronunciation is /ˌprɛfəˈrɛnʃəl/. In British English it is /ˈprɛfɜːˌɛnʃəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in preferential?
Preferential has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (REN). Broken into parts: pref · uh · REN · shul.
Is preferential pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 3, while British speakers stress syllable 1. The British form is /ˈprɛfɜːˌɛnʃəl/ (PREF-ur-en-shul).