How to pronounce primary
Say it like PRY-mer-ee. Primary has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PRY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce primary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PRY
- mer
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Primary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PRYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- merGive 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 primary
American and British speakers say primary in essentially the same way: /ˈpraɪˌmɛri/ in the US and /ˈpraɪməri/ in the UK.
British respelling: PRY-muh-ree.
What does primary mean?
- of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary“primary goals”“a primary effect”
- not derived from or reducible to something else; basic“a primary instinct”
- most important element“the chief aim of living”“the main doors were of solid glass”
- a preliminary election where delegates or nominees are chosen
- one of the main flight feathers projecting along the outer edge of a bird's wing
- (astronomy) a celestial body (especially a star) relative to other objects in orbit around it
Where does primary come from?
Borrowed from Latin prīmārius (“of the first (rank); chief, principal; excellent”), from prīmus (first; whence the English adjective prime) + -ārius (whence the English suffix -ary); compare the French primaire, primer, and premier.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying primary
How do you pronounce primary?
Say PRY-mer-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈpraɪˌmɛri/. In British English it is /ˈpraɪməri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in primary?
Primary has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PRY). Broken into parts: PRY · mer · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say primary the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpraɪˌmɛri/ and the British form is /ˈpraɪməri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.