How to pronounce stationary
Say it like STAY-shuh-ner-ee. Stationary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce stationary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STAY
- shuh
- ner
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Stationary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- shuhKeep 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 stationary
American and British speakers say stationary in essentially the same way: /ˈsteɪʃəˌnɛri/ in the US and /ˈsteɪʃənəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: STAY-shuh-nuh-ree.
What does stationary mean?
- standing still“the car remained stationary with the engine running”
- not capable of being moved“stationary machinery”
Where does stationary come from?
From Latin stationarius, from statio, ultimately from stō (“to stand”).
Words that rhyme with stationary
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of stationary.
Words that sound like stationary
Questions about saying stationary
How do you pronounce stationary?
Say STAY-shuh-ner-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈsteɪʃəˌnɛri/. In British English it is /ˈsteɪʃənəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in stationary?
Stationary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STAY). Broken into parts: STAY · shuh · ner · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say stationary the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsteɪʃəˌnɛri/ and the British form is /ˈsteɪʃənəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as stationary?
Stationary sounds the same as stationery in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.