How to pronounce unwittingly
Say it like un-WIT-ing-lee. Unwittingly has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WIT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce unwittingly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- un
- WIT
- ing
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Unwittingly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- WITSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of unwittingly
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: un-WIT-ing-lee.
What does unwittingly mean?
- In an unwitting manner; inadvertently, obliviously, unintentionally, unknowingly.“She realized to her horror that she had unwittingly helped those people she most despised.”
Where does unwittingly come from?
From Middle English on-wytyngly, un-wetandly, unweteynglye, unwetinglie, un-wetinglye, unwetyngly, unwitandly, unwitendely, unwitingly, unwittandly, unwityngli, unwityngly, unwytyngeleche, unwytyngli, equivalent to unwitting + -ly or un- + wittingly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with unwittingly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of unwittingly.
Questions about saying unwittingly
How do you pronounce unwittingly?
Say un-WIT-ing-lee. The American pronunciation is /ənˈwɪtɪŋli/. In British English it is /ʌnˈwɪtɪŋli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in unwittingly?
Unwittingly has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WIT). Broken into parts: un · WIT · ing · lee.
Is unwittingly pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ʌnˈwɪtɪŋli/ (un-WIT-ing-lee).