How to pronounce signify
Say it like SIG-nuh-fy. Signify has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce signify. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SIG
- nuh
- fy
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Signify pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SIGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- fyGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of signify
American and British speakers say signify in essentially the same way: /ˈsɪɡnəˌfaɪ/ in the US and /ˈsɪɡnəˌfaɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: SIG-nuh-fy.
What does signify mean?
- To create a sign out of something.
- To give (something) a meaning or an importance.
- To show one’s intentions with a sign etc.; to indicate, announce, or portend.
Where does signify come from?
Inherited from Middle English signifien, from Old French signifier, from Latin significare.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with signify
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of signify.
Questions about saying signify
How do you pronounce signify?
Say SIG-nuh-fy. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɪɡnəˌfaɪ/. In British English it is /ˈsɪɡnəˌfaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in signify?
Signify has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIG). Broken into parts: SIG · nuh · fy.
Do Americans and Brits say signify the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɪɡnəˌfaɪ/ and the British form is /ˈsɪɡnəˌfaɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.