How to pronounce vicarious
Say it like vih-KER-ee-us. Vicarious has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce vicarious. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- vih
- KER
- ee
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Vicarious pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- vihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- KERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of vicarious
American and British speakers say vicarious in essentially the same way: /vɪˈkɛriəs/ in the US and /vɪˈkɛəriəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: vih-KAIR-ree-us.
What does vicarious mean?
- Delegated.
- Experienced or gained by taking in another person’s experience rather than through first-hand experience, such as through watching or reading.“People experience vicarious pleasures through watching television.”
- On behalf of others.“The concept of vicarious atonement, that one person can atone for the sins of another, is found in many religions.”
Where does vicarious come from?
From Latin vicārius (“vicarious, substituted”) + English -ous.
Words that rhyme with vicarious
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of vicarious.
Questions about saying vicarious
How do you pronounce vicarious?
Say vih-KER-ee-us. The American pronunciation is /vɪˈkɛriəs/. In British English it is /vɪˈkɛəriəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in vicarious?
Vicarious has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KER). Broken into parts: vih · KER · ee · us.
Do Americans and Brits say vicarious the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /vɪˈkɛriəs/ and the British form is /vɪˈkɛəriəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.