How to pronounce volunteer
Say it like vol-un-TEER. Volunteer has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TEER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce volunteer. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- vol
- un
- TEER
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Volunteer pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- volGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TEERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of volunteer
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: vol-un-TEER.
What does volunteer mean?
- tell voluntarily“He volunteered the information”
- agree freely“She volunteered to drive the old lady home”“I offered to help with the dishes but the hostess would not hear of it”
- do volunteer work
- (military) a person who freely enlists for service
- a person who performs voluntary work
- a native or resident of Tennessee
- without payment“the soup kitchen was run primarily by unpaid helpers”“a volunteer fire department”
Where does volunteer come from?
Borrowed from Middle French voluntaire, from Latin voluntārius (“willing, voluntary”); or from voluntary + -eer.
Words that rhyme with volunteer
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of volunteer.
Questions about saying volunteer
How do you pronounce volunteer?
Say vol-un-TEER. The American pronunciation is /ˌvɑlənˈtɪr/. In British English it is /ˌvɒlənˈtɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in volunteer?
Volunteer has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TEER). Broken into parts: vol · un · TEER.
Is volunteer 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 /ˌvɒlənˈtɪə/ (vol-un-TEER).