How to pronounce tributary
Say it like TRIB-yuh-ter-ee. Tributary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TRIB).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American to hear how to pronounce tributary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/ˈtrɪbjəˌtɛri/TRIB-yuh-ter-ee
UK BritishNo British transcription yet. The audio still plays in this accent.
- TRIB
- yuh
- ter
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tributary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TRIBSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- yuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- terGive 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.
What does tributary mean?
noun
- A natural water stream that flows into a larger river or other body of water.
- A vein which drains into another vein.“The great saphenous vein is a tributary of the femoral vein.”
- A nation, state, or other entity that pays tribute.
- Related to the paying of tribute.
- Subordinate; inferior.
- Yielding supplies of any kind; serving to form or make up, a greater object of the same kind, as a part, branch, etc.; contributing.“The Ohio has many tributary streams, and is itself tributary to the Mississippi.”
Where does tributary come from?
From Middle English tributarie (“paying tribute”), from Latin tribūtārius, from tribūtum (“tribute”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying tributary
How do you pronounce tributary?
Say TRIB-yuh-ter-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈtrɪbjəˌtɛri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tributary?
Tributary has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TRIB). Broken into parts: TRIB · yuh · ter · ee.