4 syllables: A, lac, ri, ty. Stress on lac.
uh-LAK-ruh-tee
/əˈlækɹəti/
Alacrity is pronounced uh-LAK-ruh-tee (/əˈlækɹəti/). It has four syllables (A-lac-ri-ty), with the stress on "lac". Alacrity is a brisk, eager readiness or willingness to act; cheerful willingness that shows fast and enthusiastic cooperation. It conveys lively promptness in response, decision, or execution, often with a sense of spirited efficiency. In usage, it signals proactive zeal rather than mere willingness.
nounAlacrity is a brisk, eager readiness or willingness to act; cheerful willingness that shows fast and enthusiastic cooperation. It conveys lively promptness in response, decision, or execution, often with a sense of spirited efficiency. In usage, it signals proactive zeal rather than mere willingness.
"Her alacrity in packing the crates impressed the organizers."
"He accepted the challenge with alacrity, finishing the project ahead of schedule."
"The team responded with alacrity to the urgent request for assistance."
You say /ˌæl.əˈkrɪ.ti/ in US and /ˌæl.əˈkrɪ.ti/ in UK/AU. The primary stress lands on the second vowel-segment, producing a strong -KRIT- syllable. Begin with a light schwa on the first syllable, move to a clear /krɪ/ with the vowel near /ɪ/, and finish with /ti/. Mouth: relaxed initial; then a quick, crisp /k/ release, and a short /i/ before the final /ti/.
Common errors: misplacing stress (placing it on the first syllable), pronouncing as /ˈæl.ə.kraɪ.i/ or /ˈæl.əˌkrɪt.i/ with a strong second vowel. Correction: keep primary stress on the second syllable: /ˌæl.əˈkrɪ.ti/. Avoid turning /krɪ/ into /kraɪ/ by clearly shortening the /ɪ/ to a lax vowel and crisp /t/ before the final /i/. Practice with slowed speech focusing on the /krɪ/ cluster and final /ti/ sequence.
US tends toward /ˌæl.əˈkrɪ.ti/, with rhotic articulation and a clipped final syllable. UK often shares /ˌæl.əˈkrɪ.ti/ but may have slightly reduced vowels in fast speech, keeping crisp /krɪ/ and a shorter /i/. Australian typically matches US rhythm but may have more centralized vowels in connected speech; some speakers reduce the first syllable vowel to a near-schwa. Overall, the primary stress remains on the second syllable across accents.
Three main challenges: the three-syllable structure with stress on the middle syllable can be unfamiliar; the /æl/ onset followed by /ə/ can trap non-native speakers between a clear /æ/ and a muted schwa; and the /krɪ/ cluster requires a rapid, coordinated tongue movement to avoid an intrusive vowel or a mispronounced /ɡ/ or /ɹ/. Focus on maintaining a crisp /k/ release and stable /ɪ/ before the final /ti/.
In standard pronunciations, the first syllable uses a clear short /æ/ (as in cat) or a reduced schwa /ə/ depending on speaker variation. In careful speech, you’ll hear the /æ/ in the first syllable as a lax short vowel, but many speakers reduce it to /ə/ in rapid speech. The middle syllable carries primary stress; ensure the /æ/ or /ə/ does not bleed into the /krɪ/. The key is crisp /krɪ/ with minimal vowel energy leakage from the initial vowel.
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Alacrity traces to the Spanish alacrídad, derived from loquaciously Latin alacer, meaning lively, eager. The word passed into English via French, retaining the sense of cheerful readiness. Early uses emphasized vivacity and speed in action, often connected to courtly or formal contexts where prompt compliance mattered. Over centuries, alacrity broadened from a moral vigor to denote efficient, prompt response in daily tasks and professional settings. The base Latin root alac- involves concepts of brightness, cheer, and eagerness, with the suffix -ity forming a noun indicating state or quality. Its appearance in English literature peaks in the 17th–19th centuries, aligning with evolving norms of courteous efficiency in social and administrative spheres. The pronunciation settled into /əˈlækrɪti/ in General American and /əˈlæs.kri.ti/ in some British variants, but modern usage commonly retains the three-syllable rhythm closely matching the source languages. First known use in print is attested in early modern prose, where alacrity described a prompt and ready attitude, often in formal or ceremonial lines, before widening into general English usage for everyday brisk responsiveness.
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Words that rhyme with "Alacrity"
-ity sounds
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