How to pronounce propriety
Say it like pruh-PRY-uh-tee. Propriety has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PRY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce propriety. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pruh
- PRY
- uh
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Propriety pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- PRYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of propriety
- American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: pruh-PRY-tee.
What does propriety mean?
- The fact of possessing something; ownership.
- Suitability, fitness; the quality of being appropriate.
- Correctness in behavior and morals; good manners, seemliness.
Where does propriety come from?
From late Middle English proprietee, propretee, propriete (“ownership”), borrowed from Anglo-Norman propreté, Middle French proprieté, from Latin proprietās.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with propriety
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of propriety.
Questions about saying propriety
How do you pronounce propriety?
Say pruh-PRY-uh-tee. The American pronunciation is /prəˈpraɪəti/. In British English it is /prəˈpraɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in propriety?
Propriety has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PRY). Broken into parts: pruh · PRY · uh · tee.
Is propriety pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3. The British form is /prəˈpraɪti/ (pruh-PRY-tee).