4 syllables: Com, men, ta, ry. Stress on Com.
KAH-muhn-ter-ee
/ˈkɑməˌntɛɹi/
Commentary is pronounced KAH-muhn-ter-ee (/ˈkɑməˌntɛɹi/). It has four syllables (Com-men-ta-ry), with the stress on "Com". Commentary is a spoken or written article that provides explanation or analysis of an event, issue, or text. It combines opinion with critical observation and aims to inform or entertain the audience. In journalism, commentary often appears as opinion pieces, broadcasts, or segment analyses and is characterized by interpretive insight rather than mere description.
nounCommentary is a spoken or written article that provides explanation or analysis of an event, issue, or text. It combines opinion with critical observation and aims to inform or entertain the audience. In journalism, commentary often appears as opinion pieces, broadcasts, or segment analyses and is characterized by interpretive insight rather than mere description.
"The news program featured a lively commentary on the election results."
"Her commentary during the debate offered a sharp, informed perspective."
"The professor’s commentary clarified the complex theory for the students."
You say /ˈkɒmənˌtɛri/. The primary stress is on the first syllable COM-, with a secondary stress on the third syllable -ten- in some pronunciations. Start with the /k/ release, then /ɒ/ like ‘lot’, followed by /mən/ (muh-n). The /tɛ/ flows into /ri/ (/ri/ or /i/ as in 'very'), ending with a short /ri/ sound. In fast speech, the -ary can reduce toward /-ri/ or even /-ri/. Audio reference: try hearing /ˈkɒmənˌtɛri/ in ballpark pronunciations on Pronounce or Forvo.
Common errors include flattening the vowel in the first syllable (pronouncing it as /ˈkɔː/ or /ˈkɒ-/ with too broad an open sound) and misplacing the secondary stress or blending the /t/ into a quick /d/ sound. Another error is pronouncing the final -ary as /-ɛri/ instead of a quick /-ri/. Correct by clearly articulating /ɒ/ for the first vowel, maintaining /ˈmən/ for the second syllable, and ensuring /ˌtɛri/ keeps a distinct /t/ and /ɛ/ before a light /ri/.
In US, UK, and AU, the primary stress remains on the first syllable, but vowel qualities differ: US tends to rhyme COM- with /ɒ/ closer to /ɑ/ in some dialects; UK often uses /ɒ/ as in 'lot' and has non-rhoticity affecting the 'r' in -ry after a non-rhotic vowel, while AU shares rhoticity but may vary in /ə/ vs /ɪ/ in the second syllable. The final -ary commonly reduces to /ri/ in casual speech across all three, but careful speech may keep /ˈkɒmənˌtɛri/ with crisp /t/ in all variants.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic rhythm and the two consecutive unstressed syllables after the stressed first syllable, which can cause vowel reduction or slurring. The middle /mən/ sequence requires a short, lax schwa-like vowel and a crisp /n/ before the /t/ onset. The tri-syllabic flow /ˈkɒ-mən-ˌtɛ-ri/ also tests accurate placement of the secondary stress and clean /t/ release before the 'ri' ending.
Yes. The root /ˈkɒm/ should be distinct from the rest, so avoid merging /kɒ/ with the following /mən/. Keep an audible onset for 'comment' before the secondary stress, ensuring the /m/ and /n/ are crisp, with the /t/ released clearly, leading into /ˌɛri/. A clear, deliberate onset on the 'com' helps maintain the word’s intended meaning and prevents slurring in fast speech.
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Commentary derives from Medieval Latin commentarius, meaning a notebook or commentary, from Latin commentum meaning something thought or an annotation, from com- (together) + manere (to remain, stay). In English, the term entered in the 16th century to denote explanatory notes on texts. The word evolved to describe not only textual annotations but also spoken or broadcast interpretive remarks, especially in journalism and sports. The sense shifted from neutral annotations to more opinionated analysis as media personalities began delivering interpretive content for audiences. The root idea remains the same: a connected set of remarks that explains, interprets, or provides vantage on a subject. First known uses appear in scholarly and legal contexts before expanding to editorial and media commentary in newspapers and radio. Over time, commentary has embraced multimedia forms, including video and podcast segments, while retaining its core function of guiding audience understanding through interpretation and perspective.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Commentary" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Commentary"
-ony sounds
-nt) sounds
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