How to pronounce voluntarily

Q: How do you pronounce voluntarily?

Say vah-lun-TER-uh-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˌvɑlənˈtɛrəli/. In British English it is /ˌvɒlənˈtɛrɪli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.

Say it like vah-lun-TER-uh-lee. Voluntarily has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TER).

VoiceSpeed

US American/ˌvɑlənˈtɛrəli/vah-lun-TER-uh-lee

UK British/ˌvɒlənˈtɛrɪli/vol-un-TER-ih-lee

Main stress
Lighter stress
Unstressed

Voluntarily pronunciation, sound by sound

Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.

vahGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
lunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
TERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.

American vs British pronunciation of voluntarily

The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.

British respelling: vol-un-TER-ih-lee.

What does voluntarily mean?

adverb

In a voluntary manner, particularly
Of one's own free will.

Where does voluntarily come from?

From voluntary + -ly.

Similar and opposite words

Similar meaning

willingly
acquiescently
complicitly
consciously
consentingly
cooperatively
expectedly

Opposite meaning

involuntarily

Words that rhyme with voluntarily

Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of voluntarily.

Questions about saying voluntarily

How do you pronounce voluntarily?

Say vah-lun-TER-uh-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˌvɑlənˈtɛrəli/. In British English it is /ˌvɒlənˈtɛrɪli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.

How many syllables are in voluntarily?

Voluntarily has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TER). Broken into parts: vah · lun · TER · uh · lee.

Is voluntarily pronounced differently in British English?

Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˌvɒlənˈtɛrɪli/ (vol-un-TER-ih-lee).