3 syllables: Chas, ti, ty. Stress on Chas.
CHAS-tuh-tee
/ˈtʃæstəti/
Chastity is pronounced CHAS-tuh-tee (/ˈtʃæstəti/). It has three syllables (Chas-ti-ty), with the stress on "Chas". Chastity is the moral state or practice of refraining from extramarital sexual activity, often tied to personal virtue and religious or cultural codes. It can also refer to celibacy in contexts like religious vows. As a concept, it emphasizes self-control, modesty, and commitment, sometimes framed within personal ethics or community norms.
nounChastity is the moral state or practice of refraining from extramarital sexual activity, often tied to personal virtue and religious or cultural codes. It can also refer to celibacy in contexts like religious vows. As a concept, it emphasizes self-control, modesty, and commitment, sometimes framed within personal ethics or community norms.
"Many vows of chastity are taken by members of certain religious orders."
"She valued chastity as a personal standard and chose to wait."
"The novel explores the tension between desire and chastity in a complex relationship."
Chastity is pronounced CHASH-tih-tee with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU: /ˈtʃæs.tɪ.ti/ or /ˈtʃæstɪti/? In many careful pronunciations you'll hear /ˈtʃæs.tɪ.ti/; the middle syllable is a short 'i' as in 'sit', and the final 'ty' is a soft 'tee'.
Common errors: (1) Over-syllabicating the middle as 'cha-si-ti' with a full vowel; correct with a short 'i' in the middle. (2) Stress misplacement by saying chaSTIty; keep primary stress on the first syllable: CHAS-ti-ty. (3) Merging the final 'ty' to 'tee' too quickly or slurring it. Practice by isolating syllables: /ˈtʃæs.ɪ.ti/ and then blend.
US: /ˈtʃæs.tɪ.ti/ with a pure 't' in the middle and non-rhoticity not affecting the word much. UK: /ˈtʃɑːs.tɪ.ti/ or /ˈtʃæs.tɪ.ti/ depending on speaker; vowel quality in the first syllable may be more open. AU: /ˈtʃæs.tɪ.ti/ similar to US, with flatter intonation. Overall rhotics may differ slightly, but the primary stress remains on the first syllable in all variants.
Two main challenges: the initial CH cluster /tʃ/ followed by a short /æ/ or /aː/ variant can feel abrupt; and the three-syllable rhythm with a quick, reduced middle syllable /tɪ/ before the final /ti/. The sequence /ˈtʃæs.ɪ.ti/ requires precise tongue-tip contact and quick, light transitions to avoid a clipped 'cha-sti-ty' or overemphasis on the final syllable.
Yes, the middle syllable 'si' is often realized as a short, reduced vowel /ɪ/ rather than a clear /iː/. This makes the word sound brisk and crisp. Focus on keeping the i-unreduced in everyday speech while not diluting the first syllable's onset. The balance between the onset cluster 'tʃ' and the short vowel is what distinguishes careful pronunciation.
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US/UK/AU differences: • US: /ˈtʃæs.tɪ.ti/ with clear initial /tʃ/ and short /ɪ/; non-rhotic? not relevant here; rhoticity does not affect this word. • UK: /ˈtʃæs.tɪ.ti/ or /ˈtʃɑːs.tɪ.ti/ in some southern dialects; vowel /æ/ can be backed to /ɒ/ in some areas but generally stays /æ/. • AU: /ˈtʃæs.tɪ.ti/ very similar to US; vowel in the first syllable can be slightly more centralized; final /ti/ is clean and light. IPA references: /ˈtʃæs.tɪ.ti/ with primary stress on the first syllable. In all accents, keep the middle vowel short and the final 'ty' as /ti/ rather than /tiː/.
Chastity comes from Middle English chastite, from Old French chasteté, from Latin castitas, from castus meaning 'pure, upright, virtuous'. The root castus traces to Proto-Indo-European *kaste- 'pure, clean'. The term began in religious and moral discourses in medieval Europe, where chastity denoted sexual purity aligned with spiritual virtue. Over centuries, the meaning broadened to encompass personal ethics beyond strictly religious contexts, including social expectations of modesty and self-control. In literature, chastity has been used both as a virtue and a social critique, sometimes contrasting idealized purity with human desires. First known uses appear in religious writings and philosophy in Latin and Old French texts dating to the 12th century, then entering English in the Middle Ages to describe the state of being morally pure or abstinent.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Chastity" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Chastity"
-ity sounds
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