How to pronounce seminary
Say it like SEM-uh-ner-ee. Seminary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce seminary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SEM
- uh
- ner
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Seminary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SEMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- nerGive 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 seminary
American and British speakers say seminary in essentially the same way: /ˈsɛməˌnɛri/ in the US and /ˈsɛmɪnəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: SEM-ih-nuh-ree.
What does seminary mean?
- a private place of education for the young
- a theological school for training ministers or priests or rabbis
Where does seminary come from?
From Latin sēminārium, from sēmen (“seed”).
Questions about saying seminary
How do you pronounce seminary?
Say SEM-uh-ner-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɛməˌnɛri/. In British English it is /ˈsɛmɪnəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in seminary?
Seminary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEM). Broken into parts: SEM · uh · ner · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say seminary the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɛməˌnɛri/ and the British form is /ˈsɛmɪnəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.