How to pronounce secretary
Say it like SEK-ruh-ter-ee. Secretary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEK).
- SEK
- ruh
- ter
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Secretary 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.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- 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 secretary
American and British speakers say secretary in essentially the same way: /ˈsɛkrəˌtɛri/ in the US and /ˈsɛkrɪtəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: SEK-rih-tuh-ree.
What does secretary mean?
- A person who keeps records, takes notes and handles general clerical work.“I have a personal secretary to help me organize my clients.”
- The head of a department of government.
- A managerial or leading position in certain non-profit organizations, such as political parties, trade unions, international organizations.“Ban Ki-Moon was a secretary general of the United Nations.”
- To serve as a secretary of.
Where does secretary come from?
From Medieval Latin secrētārius (“one entrusted with secrets”), from Latin secrētus (“private, secret”), past participle of secernere (“to separate, set apart”), from se- (“apart”) + cernere (“to separate”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- administrator
- assistant
- amanuensis
- clerk
- scribe
- secretarial assistant
- repository
- writing table
Questions about saying secretary
How do you pronounce secretary?
Say SEK-ruh-ter-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɛkrəˌtɛri/. In British English it is /ˈsɛkrɪtəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in secretary?
Secretary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEK). Broken into parts: SEK · ruh · ter · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say secretary the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɛkrəˌtɛri/ and the British form is /ˈsɛkrɪtəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.