How to pronounce supernumerary
Say it like soo-per-NYOO-muh-rer-ee. Supernumerary has six syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NYOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce supernumerary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- soo
- per
- NYOO
- muh
- rer
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Supernumerary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- sooGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- perKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- NYOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- muhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- rerGive 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 supernumerary
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: soo-puh-NYOO-muh-ruh-ree.
What does supernumerary mean?
- A person who works in a group, association, or public office without forming part of the regular staff (the numerary).“The judge was a supernumerary, helping the regular judges whenever there was a surplus amount of work.”
- An extra or walk-on, often non-speaking, in a film or play; a spear carrier.
- Something which is beyond the prescribed or standard amount or number.
- Greater in number than.
- Beyond the prescribed or standard amount or number; excess, extra.
- Of an organ or structure: additional to what is normally present.“a supernumerary nipple; a supernumerary tooth”
Where does supernumerary come from?
From Late Latin supernumerarius (“extra soldier added to a legion; supernumerary”), from super (“above; beyond”) + numerus (“number; collection, quantity”) + -ārius (suffix forming adjectives from nouns or numerals).
Questions about saying supernumerary
How do you pronounce supernumerary?
Say soo-per-NYOO-muh-rer-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˌsupɚˈnjuməˌrɛri/. In British English it is /ˌsuːpəˈnjuːmərəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in supernumerary?
Supernumerary has six syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NYOO). Broken into parts: soo · per · NYOO · muh · rer · ee.
Is supernumerary pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌsuːpəˈnjuːmərəri/ (soo-puh-NYOO-muh-ruh-ree).