Learn How to Pronounce penitentiary
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How to pronounce:
penitentiary
Definition:
(nou) a correctional institution for those convicted of major crimes
Phonetic Transcription:
ˌpenɪˈtenʃəri
Examples:
The island is the location of a penitentiary.
The University stands on the former site of a penitentiary.
The Victorian era saw the rise of the penitentiary.
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Common mistakes of penitentiary pronunciation
- Stress placement: Many learners incorrectly stress the second syllable instead of the third. The correct pronunciation is /ˌpɛnɪˈtɛnʧəri/ in US English and /ˌpɛnɪˈtɛnʃəri/ in UK English. Tip: Focus on emphasizing "ten" to avoid confusion.
- Vowel sounds: Some people pronounce the first vowel in "penitentiary" as "ee" instead of the correct "eh" sound. The initial sound should be /ˈpɛn/. Tip: Practice saying "pen" to get the right vowel sound.
- Mispronouncing the ending: The ending "-tentiary" is often mispronounced as "-shun" or "-tree." The correct pronunciation features /ˈtɛnʧəri/ in the US and /ˈtɛnʃəri/ in the UK. Tip: Break it down into "ten" and "tentiary" to master the sounds.
- Omitting syllables: Some learners tend to drop the middle syllable, saying "penitentiary" as "penitery." This can lead to misunderstandings. Tip: Practice saying each syllable clearly: "pen-i-ten-tiary."
- Incorrect vowel length: A common mistake is to shorten the second syllable, making it sound like "penitenshary." The correct vowel sound is a short "i" /ɪ/. Tip: Emphasize the distinct "i" sound in "ten" to ensure clarity.