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family

Definition:

(nou) a social unit living together (nou) primary social group; parents and children (nou) a collection of things sharing a common attribute (nou) people descended from a common ancestor (nou) a person having kinship with another or others (nou) a taxonomic group containing one or more genera (nou) a loose affiliation of gangsters in charge of organized criminal activities (nou) an association of people who share common beliefs or activities

Phonetic Transcription:

ˈfæməli

Examples:

I'm forwarding the link to friends and family.

The care of lunatics was primarily the responsibility of the family.

The kicthen is the heart of the house and family.

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family

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How to perfect your pronunciation of: family

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Common mistakes of family pronunciation

  1. Stress placement: Many learners incorrectly stress the second syllable, saying "fa-MI-ly" instead of "FAM-i-ly". Tip: Remember the primary stress falls on the first syllable, /ˈfæm.ɪ.li/ for US and /ˈfæm.ɪ.li/ for UK.
  2. Vowel sound confusion: Some people pronounce "family" with a long "a" as in "fame", saying "fay-mily". Tip: The "a" in "family" is a short vowel sound, /æ/, as in "cat".
  3. Missing syllables: A common mistake is to say "fam-lee", omitting the middle syllable. Tip: Ensure you pronounce all three syllables clearly: "FAM-i-ly", /ˈfæm.ɪ.li/.
  4. Incorrect ending sound: Some may pronounce "family" with a hard "y" sound, saying "fam-lee". Tip: The last syllable is pronounced with a soft "y" sound, /li/, not a hard "y".
  5. Overemphasizing the "i": Learners sometimes stress the "i" too much, resulting in "fam-i-LEE". Tip: Keep the "i" light and quick, maintaining the flow as in /ˈfæm.ɪ.li/.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "family" in American English?

In American English, "family" is pronounced as /ˈfæm.ə.li/. The primary stress is on the first syllable, "fam," which sounds like "fam" in "fame."

What is the British pronunciation of "family"?

In British English, "family" is also pronounced as /ˈfæm.ɪ.li/. The main difference is in the vowel sound of the second syllable, which is pronounced with a short "i" sound, like in "bit."

Does "family" have a schwa sound?

Yes, "family" contains a schwa sound /ə/ in the second syllable. This sound is often unstressed and pronounced quickly, making it sound like "fam-uh-lee."

Are there common mistakes when pronouncing "family"?

A common mistake is to emphasize the second syllable instead of the first. Remember to stress the first syllable, "fam," and keep the second syllable quick and light.
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