How to pronounce secondary
Say it like SEK-un-der-ee. Secondary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce secondary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SEK
- un
- der
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Secondary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SEKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- derGive 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 secondary
American and British speakers say secondary in essentially the same way: /ˈsɛkənˌdɛri/ in the US and /ˈsɛkəndəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: SEK-un-duh-ree.
What does secondary mean?
- being of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate“the stone will be hauled to a secondary crusher”“a secondary source”
- inferior in rank or status“the junior faculty”“a lowly corporal”
- depending on or incidental to what is original or primary“a secondary infection”
- the defensive football players who line up behind the linemen
- coil such that current is induced in it by passing a current through the primary coil
Where does secondary come from?
From Middle English secundarie, from Latin secundārius (“of the second class or quality”), from secundus (whence the English second) + -ārius (whence the English suffix -ary), equivalent to second + -ary; compare the French secondaire, the
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying secondary
How do you pronounce secondary?
Say SEK-un-der-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɛkənˌdɛri/. In British English it is /ˈsɛkəndəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in secondary?
Secondary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEK). Broken into parts: SEK · un · der · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say secondary the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɛkənˌdɛri/ and the British form is /ˈsɛkəndəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.