How to Pronounce “definitely”

American (US)

/ˈdefɪnətli/

British (UK)

/ˈdefɪnətli/

adverb — Without doubt; certainly.

Example: That is definitely the right decision.

Synonyms: certainly, undoubtedly

Antonyms: possibly

Where the stress falls. “definitely” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˈdefɪnətli/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˈdefɪnətli/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "definitely" mean?

definitely (adverb): Without doubt; certainly. For example — That is definitely the right decision.

How do you pronounce "definitely" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "definitely", /ˈdefɪnətli/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "definitely"?

/ˈdefɪnətli/ in American English, /ˈdefɪnətli/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "definitely"?

“definitely” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˈdefɪnətli/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

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