4 syllables: A, dul, ter, y. Stress on dul.
uh-DUHL-tur-ee
/əˈdʌltɚi/
Adultery is pronounced uh-DUHL-tur-ee (/əˈdʌltɚi/). It has four syllables (A-dul-ter-y), with the stress on "dul". Adultery is the act of engaging in sexual relationships outside of marriage, typically violating a moral or legal expectation of exclusive fidelity. It is a forbidden or scandalous breach that can have social, personal, and legal repercussions, depending on context. The term often carries strong moral judgments and emotional consequences for those involved.
nounAdultery is the act of engaging in sexual relationships outside of marriage, typically violating a moral or legal expectation of exclusive fidelity. It is a forbidden or scandalous breach that can have social, personal, and legal repercussions, depending on context. The term often carries strong moral judgments and emotional consequences for those involved.
"She faced social backlash after news of her adultery spread through the community."
"The novel centers on the consequences of adultery within a long-standing marriage."
"Legal definitions of adultery vary by jurisdiction and were historically used in divorce cases."
Adultery is pronounced with three syllables: /æˈdʌl.tə.ri/ in US and UK practice, and /ˈædəlˌtɛəri/ in some UK variants. The primary stress lands on the second syllable: /æ-DUL-tə-ry/. The middle vowel often reduces in rapid speech to a schwa, giving /ˈæd.əlˌtɛr.i/ in some contexts. Focus on the /d/ + /j/ sequence for a smooth transition: let your tongue lightly contact the alveolar ridge as you move from /d/ to /j/ or glide, depending on the speaker.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress (trying to stress the first syllable), pronouncing /ju/ as a hard /ju/ rather than a soft /j/ glide, and failing to reduce the middle vowel. Correct by stressing the second syllable: a-DUL-ter-y, using a clear /d/ before the /əl/ and allowing the /ə/ to be quick. Practice the /t/ touching the alveolar ridge and then a light /ə/ before the final /ri/ or /ri/ cluster, depending on rhythm. Also avoid creating an extra syllable: say three units, not four.
In US English, you’ll hear /æˈdʌl.tɛɹ.i/ with rhoticity; the final /r/ is pronounced. UK English often yields /ˈæd.əlˌtɛr.i/ with lighter rhotics and more vowel reduction in the second syllable. Australian English resembles US and UK patterns but often features a flatter intonation and slightly broader vowel qualities, with /ɪ/ or /iː/ variants in the final syllable depending on speaker. Across all, the second syllable remains the tonal peak; pay attention to the /əl/ cluster and the /t/ release.
The word challenges learners with a multi-syllabic structure and a tricky /d/ to /j/ (if followed by /j/ in rapid speech) transition, plus potential vowel reductions in unstressed syllables. The central /əl/ sequence requires a precise schwa or a light vowel, and the final /ri/ can verge toward /ri/ or /ri/ with a subtle r-coloring in rhotic accents. Mastery comes from slow breakdown, careful articulation of /d/ and /l/, and consistent stress pattern on the second syllable.
Yes—its core trap is the /dju/ vs /də/ realization in fast speech and the pronunciation of the trailing /ri/ depending on accent. In careful speech, you’ll articulate /æ/ in the first syllable, then clear /d/ + /əl/ (pronounced /dəl/ or /dju/ in some speakers), and end with a crisp /ri/ or /ri/ with an optional /ɹ/ in rhotic accents. Practicing the exact sequence with a light approach to the middle vowel helps avoid slurring.
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Adultery comes from the Latin adulterium, formed from ad- ‘toward’ +ultarius, with ultus linked to ‘portent’—but the most widely cited path is via Old French adultere and Latin adulter, ‘seeker of illicit sexual relations,’ stemming from adulterare ‘to corrupt, corrupting, pollute.’ In medieval Latin, adulterium denoted illicit sexual intercourse, especially within marriage, with the sense widening across vernaculars in Europe. The modern English term adopted the sense of betrayal within marriage and has remained strongly moralized since early modern periods. The word’s trajectory mirrors societal concerns about marriage, legitimacy, and social trust. First known use in English appears around the 14th-15th centuries, evolving through legal and religious discourse to denote ‘extramarital sex’ with connotations of sin, breach of trust, and social stigma that persist in contemporary usage. Over time, the nuance broadened to include contractual or emotional betrayals in broader relationships, but its strongest cultural charge remains tied to marital fidelity and normative codes of conduct.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Adultery" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Adultery"
-uty sounds
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