How to Pronounce “infrastructure”

American (US)

/ˈɪnfɹəˌstɹʌkt͡ʃɚ/

British (UK)

/ˈɪnfɹəˌstɹʌkt͡ʃə/

Australian (AU)

/ˈɪnfɹəˌstɹɐkt͡ʃə/

noun — An underlying base or foundation for a building, organization, or system.

Example: The parasitic tyranny's infrastructure depends on secrecy in order to be effective.

Where the stress falls. “infrastructure” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˈɪnfɹəˌstɹʌkt͡ʃɚ/ 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. /ˈɪnfɹəˌstɹʌkt͡ʃɚ/ 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 "infrastructure" mean?

infrastructure (noun): An underlying base or foundation for a building, organization, or system. For example — The parasitic tyranny's infrastructure depends on secrecy in order to be effective.

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

American English: /ˈɪnfɹəˌstɹʌkt͡ʃɚ/. British English: /ˈɪnfɹəˌstɹʌkt͡ʃə/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "infrastructure"?

/ˈɪnfɹəˌstɹʌkt͡ʃɚ/ in American English, /ˈɪnfɹəˌstɹʌkt͡ʃə/ in British English, /ˈɪnfɹəˌstɹɐkt͡ʃə/ in Australian English.

Which syllable is stressed in "infrastructure"?

“infrastructure” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˈɪnfɹəˌstɹʌkt͡ʃɚ/ 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.