How to pronounce university
Say it like yoo-nuh-VUR-suh-tee. University has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (VUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce university. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- yoo
- nuh
- VUR
- suh
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
University pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- yooGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- VURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of university
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: yoo-nih-VUR-sih-tee.
What does university mean?
- the body of faculty and students at a university
- establishment where a seat of higher learning is housed, including administrative and living quarters as well as facilities for research and teaching
- a large and diverse institution of higher learning created to educate for life and for a profession and to grant degrees
Where does university come from?
From Middle English universite (“institution of higher learning, body of persons constituting a university”) from Anglo-Norman université, from Old French universitei, from Medieval Latin stem of universitas, in juridical and Late Latin "a
Words that rhyme with university
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of university.
Questions about saying university
How do you pronounce university?
Say yoo-nuh-VUR-suh-tee. The American pronunciation is /ˌjunəˈvɝsəti/. In British English it is /ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in university?
University has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (VUR). Broken into parts: yoo · nuh · VUR · suh · tee.
Is university pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsɪti/ (yoo-nih-VUR-sih-tee).