How to pronounce unemployment
Say it like uhn-im-PLOY-munt. Unemployment has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (PLOY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce unemployment. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uhn
- im
- PLOY
- munt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Unemployment pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhnGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- imKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- PLOYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
- muntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of unemployment
American and British speakers say unemployment in essentially the same way: /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/ in the US and /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: uhn-im-PLOY-munt.
What does unemployment mean?
- the state of being unemployed or not having a job“unemployment is a serious social evil”“the rate of unemployment is an indicator of the health of an economy”
Where does unemployment come from?
From un- + employment.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with unemployment
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of unemployment.
Questions about saying unemployment
How do you pronounce unemployment?
Say uhn-im-PLOY-munt. The American pronunciation is /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/. In British English it is /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in unemployment?
Unemployment has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (PLOY). Broken into parts: uhn · im · PLOY · munt.
Do Americans and Brits say unemployment the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/ and the British form is /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.