Native Phrase Lab
WillowbrookWord 161 of 545 · Fewer beats than you think
How to pronounce dictionary
/ˈdɪkʃənri/ British English
DIK·shən·ree
3 beats (syllables). The strong beat is the first one.
a Crossed-out letters are silent.
✗ Many people say
dic·tio·NA·ry
✓ Say
DIK·shən·ree
My tip
Stress the start. In British English it’s just 3 beats: DIK-shən-ree.
In a sentence
Look it up in the dictionary if you’re not sure.
Now you say it
- Listen to me two or three times.
- Say it slowly, one beat at a time: DIK-shən-ree.
- Say the sentence at normal speed.
Questions
How do you pronounce dictionary?
In British English, dictionary is pronounced /ˈdɪkʃənri/. Say it like this: DIK-shən-ree. Stress the start. In British English it’s just 3 beats: DIK-shən-ree.
How many syllables are in dictionary?
When you say it, dictionary has 3 syllables: DIK-shən-ree. The strong beat is the first one, DIK.
More words like this: fewer beats than you think
Practise these sounds
- The schwa, /ə/The small, weak sound in this word. It’s one of the 4 sounds you can practise completely free in my Sound Atlas.
- The strong beat: /ɪ/ as in “ship”Meet this sound and hear it in my Sound Atlas. Free.
- The Sound MapAll 44 sounds of British English, in my voice. Free.
- Pitch Perfect: the Silent letters setHear me say it, record yourself, and see your sound under mine. A premium game.
- More gamesFive of my English games are free to play.