How to pronounce temporary
Say it like TEM-puh-rer-ee. Temporary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce temporary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TEM
- puh
- rer
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Temporary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TEMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- puhKeep 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 temporary
American and British speakers say temporary in essentially the same way: /ˈtɛmpəˌrɛri/ in the US and /ˈtɛmpərəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: TEM-puh-ruh-ree.
What does temporary mean?
- not permanent; not lasting“politics is an impermanent factor of life”“impermanent palm cottages”
- lacking continuity or regularity“an irregular worker”“employed on a temporary basis”
- a worker (especially in an office) hired on a temporary basis
Where does temporary come from?
Borrowed from Latin temporarius, from tempus (“time”).
Questions about saying temporary
How do you pronounce temporary?
Say TEM-puh-rer-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɛmpəˌrɛri/. In British English it is /ˈtɛmpərəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in temporary?
Temporary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEM). Broken into parts: TEM · puh · rer · ee.
Do Americans and Brits say temporary the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtɛmpəˌrɛri/ and the British form is /ˈtɛmpərəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.