How to pronounce surreptitious
Say it like suh-rep-TISH-us. Surreptitious has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TISH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce surreptitious. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- suh
- rep
- TISH
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Surreptitious pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- repGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- TISHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of surreptitious
American and British speakers say surreptitious in essentially the same way: /səˌrɛpˈtɪʃəs/ in the US and /ˌsʌrɪpˈtɪʃəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: suhr-ip-TISH-us.
What does surreptitious mean?
- Stealthy, furtive, well hidden, covert (especially movements).
Where does surreptitious come from?
Borrowed from Latin surrēptīcius (“furtive, clandestine”), from surrēpō (“to creep along”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with surreptitious
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of surreptitious.
Questions about saying surreptitious
How do you pronounce surreptitious?
Say suh-rep-TISH-us. The American pronunciation is /səˌrɛpˈtɪʃəs/. In British English it is /ˌsʌrɪpˈtɪʃəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in surreptitious?
Surreptitious has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TISH). Broken into parts: suh · rep · TISH · us.
Do Americans and Brits say surreptitious the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /səˌrɛpˈtɪʃəs/ and the British form is /ˌsʌrɪpˈtɪʃəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.