How to pronounce sedentary
Say it like SED-un-ter-ee. Sedentary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SED).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sedentary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SED
- un
- ter
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sedentary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SEDSay 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.
- 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 sedentary
American and British speakers say sedentary in essentially the same way: /ˈsɛdənˌtɛri/ in the US and /ˈsɛdəntəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: SED-un-tuh-ree.
What does sedentary mean?
- Not moving; relatively still; staying in the vicinity.“The oyster is a sedentary mollusk; the barnacles are sedentary crustaceans.”
- Of a human population, living in a fixed geographical location.
- Of a job, lifestyle, etc., not moving much; sitting around; inactive.
- A sedentary person.
Where does sedentary come from?
From Middle French sédentaire, from Latin sedentārius (“sitting”), from sedeō (“to sit, to be seated”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying sedentary
How do you pronounce sedentary?
Say SED-un-ter-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɛdənˌtɛri/. In British English it is /ˈsɛdəntəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sedentary?
Sedentary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SED). Broken into parts: SED · un · ter · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say sedentary the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɛdənˌtɛri/ and the British form is /ˈsɛdəntəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.