How to pronounce saturnalia
Say it like sat-er-NAY-lee-uh. Saturnalia has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce saturnalia. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- sat
- er
- NAY
- lee
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Saturnalia pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- satGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- NAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of saturnalia
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: sat-uh-NAY-lee-uh.
What does saturnalia mean?
- A period or occasion of general license, in which the passions or vices have riotous indulgence; a period of unrestrained revelry.
Where does saturnalia come from?
From Saturnalia (“a festival of the winter solstice”).
Words that rhyme with saturnalia
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of saturnalia.
Questions about saying saturnalia
How do you pronounce saturnalia?
Say sat-er-NAY-lee-uh. The American pronunciation is /ˌsætɚˈneɪliə/. In British English it is /ˌsætəˈneɪliə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in saturnalia?
Saturnalia has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NAY). Broken into parts: sat · er · NAY · lee · uh.
Is saturnalia pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌsætəˈneɪliə/ (sat-uh-NAY-lee-uh).