How to pronounce tonality
Say it like toh-NAL-ih-tee. Tonality has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tonality. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- toh
- NAL
- ih
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tonality pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- tohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- NALSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of tonality
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: toh-NAL-ih-tee.
What does tonality mean?
- The system of seven tones built on a tonic key; the 24 major and minor scales.
- A sound of specific pitch and quality; timbre.
- The quality of all the tones in a composition heard in relation to the tonic.
Where does tonality come from?
From French tonalité.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with tonality
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tonality.
- personality
- functionality
- plurality
- immortality
- originality
- individuality
- fatality
- speciality
- rationality
- criminality
Questions about saying tonality
How do you pronounce tonality?
Say toh-NAL-ih-tee. The American pronunciation is /toʊˈnælɪti/. In British English it is /təʊˈnælɪtiː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tonality?
Tonality has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAL). Broken into parts: toh · NAL · ih · tee.
Is tonality pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /təʊˈnælɪtiː/ (toh-NAL-ih-tee).