How to pronounce sesquipedalian
Say it like ses-kwih-pih-DAY-lih-un. Sesquipedalian has six syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (DAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sesquipedalian. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ses
- kwih
- pih
- DAY
- lih
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sesquipedalian pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- sesGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- kwihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- pihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- DAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- lihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of sesquipedalian
American and British speakers say sesquipedalian in essentially the same way: /ˌsɛskwɪpɪˈdeɪlɪən/ in the US and /ˌsɛskwɪpɪˈdeɪlɪən/ in the UK.
British respelling: ses-kwih-pih-DAY-lih-un.
What does sesquipedalian mean?
- Long; polysyllabic.“The most common use of "antidisestablishmentarianism" is as an example of a sesquipedalian word.”
- Pertaining to or given to the use of overly long words.“Our dinner guest was so sesquipedalian that no one could understand what he said.”
- A long word.
- A person who uses long words.
Where does sesquipedalian come from?
From sesquipedal + -ian (adjective- and noun-forming suffix), root from Latin sēsquipedālis (literally “a foot and a half long”), from Latin sēsqui (“one and a half times”) + Latin pedālis (“measuring a foot, foot (relational)”) (an adjecti
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying sesquipedalian
How do you pronounce sesquipedalian?
Say ses-kwih-pih-DAY-lih-un. The American pronunciation is /ˌsɛskwɪpɪˈdeɪlɪən/. In British English it is /ˌsɛskwɪpɪˈdeɪlɪən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sesquipedalian?
Sesquipedalian has six syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (DAY). Broken into parts: ses · kwih · pih · DAY · lih · un.
Do Americans and Brits say sesquipedalian the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌsɛskwɪpɪˈdeɪlɪən/ and the British form is /ˌsɛskwɪpɪˈdeɪlɪən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.