4 syllables: Ad, ver, sar, y. Stress on Ad.
AD-vur-ser-ee
/ˈædvɚˌsɛɹi/
Adversary is pronounced AD-vur-ser-ee (/ˈædvɚˌsɛɹi/). It has four syllables (Ad-ver-sar-y), with the stress on "Ad". Adversary is a person or entity that actively opposes or attacks; typically a formal or dramatic term for an opponent. It denotes opposition in a contest, conflict, or argument, and can refer to any party identified as the rival or foe. The word carries a slightly formal or literary tone and is often used in strategic or legal contexts as well as fiction.
nounAdversary is a person or entity that actively opposes or attacks; typically a formal or dramatic term for an opponent. It denotes opposition in a contest, conflict, or argument, and can refer to any party identified as the rival or foe. The word carries a slightly formal or literary tone and is often used in strategic or legal contexts as well as fiction.
- You may habitually place stress on a later syllable (e.g., /ˌæd.vərˈsiər.i/). Correct by keeping primary stress on the first syllable and reducing the following stress. - The middle syllable can be reduced to a schwa; aim for /ˈæd.vər-/ with a clear /ɚ/ before /si-/ - The final /i/ should be a clean long E; avoid a dull /ɪ/ or a short vowel. Practice slow, then speed up while keeping the final vowel steady.
"In the debate, the adversary challenged every point with relentless precision."
"The hero faced a cunning adversary who exploited every weakness."
"From the diplomat’s perspective, the opposing nation remained a formidable adversary."
You pronounce it as /ˈæd.vərˌseɹ.i/ (US) or /ˈæd.vəˌseəri/ (UK). The primary stress is on the first syllable: A-dver-sa-ry. Ensure the second syllable is a light, quick schwa + r or schwa + non-r-controlled vowel, and end with a clear 'ee' or 'e' sound. Face the mouth as if saying 'ad-VER-suh-ree', making the final vowel distinct but not drawn out. You can listen to examples on Pronounce or Forvo to hear the final -ry pronounced as /ri/ in many accents.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (e.g., /ˈæd.vɚˌsɛr.i/ or /ˈædˌvɜːˈsəri/), and reducing the middle syllable too much so it becomes a dull /vər/ or /vər/. Another frequent slip is turning the final /i/ into a short vowel like /ɪ/ or /ɪə/. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, ensure a clear secondary stress pattern around -se-, and finish with a crisp /i/ as in 'ee'.
US tends to have /ˈæd.vərˌsɛr.i/, with a rhotacized middle /ər/ and a clear /ri/ at the end. UK often has /ˈæd.vəˌseəri/, with a shorter, unstressed second syllable and a longer final /iː/ or /i/. Australian tends toward /ˈæd.vəˌsʰeə.ɹi/ with a flatter, less pronounced final /ri/ and a noticeable non-rhoticity in some speakers, though many are rhotic. The key differences: rhotic 'er' in US and non-rhotic tendencies in some UK/AU speech, and final vowel length. Listen to native samples for subtle shifts.
Difficulties include: 1) Maintaining the three-syllable rhythm with correct stress on the first syllable; 2) Navigating the mid syllable /ər/ or /ə/ that often reduces in rapid speech; and 3) Ending with a clear /i/ or /ri/ in a way that doesn’t sound like 'adverse-try' or 'ad-ver-sair-ee.' Focus on a crisp /æ/ in the first vowel, a reduced but distinct /ər/ in the second, and a final /i/ Lubricate the transition between /ər/ and /siː/ by a light, quick movement of the tongue.
A unique challenge is the sequence -vər- followed by -sary. The r-controlled vowel in the middle can lead listeners to misplace the stress or blur the /ər/ into an /ɜː/ or /ə/. To address this, practice the pattern A-dverse-ary with a light, even tempo and exaggeratedly clear middle vowel before the /s/ onset, then taper into the final /i/ with a closed mouth.
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- US: rhotic /ər/ in the second syllable, final /i/ as /i/; the middle vowel is often a reduced schwa; keep a crisp onset for the final /ri/ cluster. - UK: more centralized middle vowel, non-rhotic tendencies in some speakers; final /i/ may lengthen to /iː/ depending on speaker. - AU: often more relaxed vowels, less pronounced rhotics; final /ri/ can blur toward /rəi/ in connected speech. Use IPA cues /ˈæd.vɚˌsɛr.i/, /ˈæd.vəˌseəri/, /ˈæd.vəˌsɛː.ɹi/ as anchors.
Adversary comes from Old French adversaire, from Latin adversarius, derived from adversus meaning 'turned toward, opposite, hostile.' The Latin root ad- means 'toward' and vers- means 'to turn' (from vertere). In Latin, adversarius described someone who contends with another in a lawsuit or combat. The term entered English in the 14th–15th centuries with a sense of an opponent in a dispute or battle, gradually adopting broader uses in law, politics, and fiction. The word’s suffix -ary denotes a person involved with or connected to the action (as in 'secretary' or 'aviary'), signaling agency or association in opposition. Over time, adversary acquired a somewhat formal or classical tone, often used in narratives and strategic discussions to denote a persistent, calculated opponent rather than a casual rival.
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Words that rhyme with "Adversary"
-ary sounds
-ry? sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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