How to pronounce sanitary
Say it like SAN-ih-ter-ee. Sanitary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sanitary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SAN
- ih
- ter
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sanitary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- terGive 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 sanitary
American and British speakers say sanitary in essentially the same way: /ˈsænɪˌtɛri/ in the US and /ˈsænɪtəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: SAN-ih-tuh-ree.
What does sanitary mean?
- Of or relating to health.
- Clean and free from pathogens; hygienic.
- Sanitary towel.
Where does sanitary come from?
19th century, borrowed from French sanitaire, formed from Latin sanitas (“health”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with sanitary
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sanitary.
Questions about saying sanitary
How do you pronounce sanitary?
Say SAN-ih-ter-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsænɪˌtɛri/. In British English it is /ˈsænɪtəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sanitary?
Sanitary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAN). Broken into parts: SAN · ih · ter · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say sanitary the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsænɪˌtɛri/ and the British form is /ˈsænɪtəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.