How to pronounce private
Say it like PRY-vut. Private has two 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 private. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PRY
- vut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Private 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.
- vutKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of private
American and British speakers say private in essentially the same way: /ˈpraɪvət/ in the US and /ˈpraɪvɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: PRY-vit.
What does private mean?
- an enlisted man of the lowest rank in the Army or Marines“our prisoner was just a private and knew nothing of value”
- confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy“a private place”“private discussions”
- concerning things deeply private and personal“intimate correspondence”“private family matters”
- concerning one person exclusively“we all have individual cars”“each room has a private bath”
Where does private come from?
From Middle English privat(e) (“individual, exclusive, private”), from Latin prīvātus (“bereaved, deprived, set apart from, release”), perfect passive participle of prīvō (“to bereave, deprive, release”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying private
How do you pronounce private?
Say PRY-vut. The American pronunciation is /ˈpraɪvət/. In British English it is /ˈpraɪvɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in private?
Private has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PRY). Broken into parts: PRY · vut.
Do Americans and Brits say private the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpraɪvət/ and the British form is /ˈpraɪvɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.