How to pronounce semicentenarian

Q: How do you pronounce semicentenarian?

Say sem-eye-sen-uh-NER-ee-un. The American pronunciation is /ˌsɛˌmaɪˌsɛnəˈnɛriən/. In British English it is /ˌsɛmɪsɛntəˈnɛəriən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.

Say it like sem-eye-sen-uh-NER-ee-un. Semicentenarian has seven syllables, and the main stress falls on the fifth one (NER).

VoiceSpeed

Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce semicentenarian. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.

US American/ˌsɛˌmaɪˌsɛnəˈnɛriən/sem-eye-sen-uh-NER-ee-un

UK British/ˌsɛmɪsɛntəˈnɛəriən/sem-ih-sen-tuh-NAIR-ee-un

Main stress
Lighter stress
Unstressed

Semicentenarian pronunciation, sound by sound

Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.

semGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
eyeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
senGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
NERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.

American vs British pronunciation of semicentenarian

American and British speakers say semicentenarian in essentially the same way: /ˌsɛˌmaɪˌsɛnəˈnɛriən/ in the US and /ˌsɛmɪsɛntəˈnɛəriən/ in the UK.

British respelling: sem-ih-sen-tuh-NAIR-ee-un.

What does semicentenarian mean?

noun

Synonym of fiftysomething: A person celebrating a semicentenary; a person between 50 and 59 years old.

Where does semicentenarian come from?

From semicentenary (“50 year, 50th anniversary”) + -ian (“person”), equivalent to semi- (“half”) + centenarian (“100-year-old”), q.v.

Words that rhyme with semicentenarian

Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of semicentenarian.

Questions about saying semicentenarian

How do you pronounce semicentenarian?

Say sem-eye-sen-uh-NER-ee-un. The American pronunciation is /ˌsɛˌmaɪˌsɛnəˈnɛriən/. In British English it is /ˌsɛmɪsɛntəˈnɛəriən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.

How many syllables are in semicentenarian?

Semicentenarian has seven syllables, and the main stress falls on the fifth one (NER). Broken into parts: sem · eye · sen · uh · NER · ee · un.

Do Americans and Brits say semicentenarian the same way?

Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌsɛˌmaɪˌsɛnəˈnɛriən/ and the British form is /ˌsɛmɪsɛntəˈnɛəriən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.