5 syllables: Com, pli, men, ta, ry. Stress on men.
kahm-pluh-MEN-tur-ee
/ˌkɑmpləˈmɛntɚi/
Complimentary is pronounced kahm-pluh-MEN-tur-ee (/ˌkɑmpləˈmɛntɚi/). It has five syllables (Com-pli-men-ta-ry), with the stress on "men". Complimentary means given free of charge or expressing praise or admiration. As an adjective, it can describe a free item or service, or language that honors or compliments someone. The pronunciation shifts emphasis subtly and the word’s vowel sounds change with stress, which affects naturalness in rapid speech.
adjectiveComplimentary means given free of charge or expressing praise or admiration. As an adjective, it can describe a free item or service, or language that honors or compliments someone. The pronunciation shifts emphasis subtly and the word’s vowel sounds change with stress, which affects naturalness in rapid speech.
"The hotel offered complimentary breakfast to all guests."
"She received complimentary remarks from the panel after her presentation."
"They wore complimentary colors that matched the event’s theme."
US: /ˌkɒm.plɪˈmen.tɛ.ɹi/ (with stress on the third syllable). UK: /ˌkɒm.plɪˈmen.tɒr.i/ or /-təri/, with similar stress pattern; Australian: /ˌkɒm.plɪˈmen.tə.ɹi/ depending on speaker. In fast speech, the middle vowels can reduce to a schwa before -ment- and -ary, making it sound like kum-plih-MEN-tuh-ree. Focus the main beat on the syllable before final -tary, giving a clear ˈmen- or ˈmen.tɚ/i sound depending on accent. Audio examples: [refer to Pronounce, Forvo, YouGlish].
Two common errors: (a) stressing the wrong syllable, typically placing primary stress on the first or second syllable; (b) merging the -ment- with -ary as /ˈkɒm.plɪ.mən.tri/ or flattening the final -ary to /-ɪ/ instead of /-əri/. Correct by: keeping secondary stress on the antepenultimate syllable and pronouncing the middle /mən/ clearly, ensuring the -t- is aspirated before the final -ary. Practicing with slow, deliberate articulation of /ˌkɒm.plɪˈmen.təri/ will help you stabilize the rhythm and avoid a clipped ending.
In US English, you’ll hear a rhotacized final -ry sound (/ˈtɹi/ with a clear r). UK speakers may render the final as /-təri/ with non-rhoticity, causing the r to be less pronounced or dropped in connected speech. Australian tends toward a flatter /i/ or /ɪ/ in the second syllable and often has a non-rhotic or lightly rhotic ending depending on region; the middle vowel in -men- is a short /ɪ/. Gesture: emphasize alveolar /t/ before -əri to keep the syllable crisp across accents.
Because it stacks several challenging features: a stressed third syllable with a reduced middle /mɪn/ cluster, the fast transition from /m/ to /n/ to the final /təri/, and the tri-syllabic rhythm that can blur the schwa in rapid speech. The -ment- sounds can elide, producing /ˌkɒm.plɪˈmen.tɹi/ in some dialects. Also, the final -ary often shifts to /-əri/ or /-əri/ depending on accent, which many learners misplace.
The primary stress is on the antepenultimate or penultimate around the -men- syllable depending on speaker; you should prevent the final -ary from becoming a dull /ɛr i / cluster. Also, avoid turning the middle /ɪ/ into a long vowel; keep it short and crisp. A practical cue: pronounce it as kum-pli-MEN-tə-ree, ensuring the middle consonants flow into the /t/ before the final /əri/.
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Complimentary originates from the late 17th century via Old French compliment (in turn from Latin compl mentum ‘a gift, a completion, a polite expression of praise’). The form ‘complimentary’ developed from the noun compliment, preserving the sense of praise and also of a gift or free item as a “complimentary” provision. The word entered English with two overlapping senses: beneficent/free (from the gift sense) and praising language (from the linguistic compliment). The evolution tracked the shift from concrete free offerings or tokens of courtesy to figurative praise and flattering language. In modern usage, complimentary commonly marks two domains: free-of-charge items or services, and expressions of praise or admiration. First known use traces back to mid- to late 1600s, when courtesy and praise were bundled in social ritual; throughout the 18th–19th centuries, the word expanded into advertisements and hospitality language to emphasize freebies and tokens of courtesy alongside polite praise.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Complimentary" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Complimentary"
-ary sounds
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