How to pronounce utility
Say it like yoo-TIL-uh-tee. Utility has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce utility. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- yoo
- TIL
- uh
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Utility pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- yooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- TILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep 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 utility
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: yoo-TIL-ih-tee.
What does utility mean?
- a company that performs a public service; subject to government regulation
- the quality of being of practical use
- the service (electric power or water or transportation) provided by a public utility“the cost of utilities never decreases”“all the utilities were lost after the hurricane”
- used of beef; usable but inferior
- capable of substituting in any of several positions on a team“a utility infielder”
Where does utility come from?
From Middle English utilite, from Old French utilite, utilitet (“usefulness”), from Latin ūtilitās, from uti (“to use”).
Words that rhyme with utility
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of utility.
- ability
- responsibility
- possibility
- availability
- capability
- mobility
- flexibility
- probability
- reliability
- fertility
Questions about saying utility
How do you pronounce utility?
Say yoo-TIL-uh-tee. The American pronunciation is /juˈtɪləti/. In British English it is /juːˈtɪlɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in utility?
Utility has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TIL). Broken into parts: yoo · TIL · uh · tee.
Is utility 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 /juːˈtɪlɪti/ (yoo-TIL-ih-tee).