3 syllables: De, pu, ty. Stress on De.
DEP-yuh-tee
/ˈdɛpjəti/
Deputy is pronounced DEP-yuh-tee (/ˈdɛpjəti/). It has three syllables (De-pu-ty), with the stress on "De". Deputy (noun) refers to a person who acts on behalf of another, typically as an assistant or substitute with delegated authority. It can denote a rank in law enforcement or government, such as a deputy sheriff or deputy minister. The term implies a secondary, supporting role rather than primary ownership of duties.
nounDeputy (noun) refers to a person who acts on behalf of another, typically as an assistant or substitute with delegated authority. It can denote a rank in law enforcement or government, such as a deputy sheriff or deputy minister. The term implies a secondary, supporting role rather than primary ownership of duties.
- Over-emphasizing or distorting the second syllable, turning /pj/ into separate consonants; keep a light /pj/ glide. - Dropping the /j/ or making it an afterthought, producing /ˈdɛpəti/ instead of /ˈdɛpjuti/; ensure you have a brief /j/ sound between /p/ and /u/. - Misplacing stress, frequently shifting to de-PU-ty; maintain primary stress on the first syllable: DEP-ju-ty. - Ending with a stronger vowel than /i/; the ending should be a crisp /ti/ or a very light /ti/ in rapid speech. - In fast speech, the 'ty' can reduce; practice keeping the final consonant audible for clarity.
Tip: break it down into three parts DEP + yu/ju + ti, then blend. Record yourself and compare to a native speaker. Practice with minimal pairs like deputy vs debtee (the latter is an artificial contrast), or vs deputyty to hear the glide.
How to Pronounce Deputy
"The deputy spoke to the crowd while the sheriff prepared the evidence."
"As deputy, she handles scheduling and liaison duties for the team."
"The deputy mayor stepped in during the mayor's absence."
Pronounce as DEP-yoo-tee in US English or DEP-yuh-tee in many UK contexts. IPA US: /ˈdɛpjuti/, UK: /ˈdɛpjəti/. Start with a clear 'dep' /dɛp/, then a light 'yu' /jə/ or /ju/, and finish with a unstressed 'ty' /ti/ or /ti/. The primary stress is on the first syllable: DEP. Mouth position: lips neutral, tongue tip lightly touching or just behind the upper teeth for /d/, then consider a light palatal onset for /pj/ sequence.
Common errors: 1) Flattening the second syllable to /dɛpəti/ with a too-strong schwa; correct to a light /ə/ or /jə/ depending on dialect. 2) Misplacing the /j/ into an awkward cluster: avoid turning /pj/ into a hard /pj/; keep it as a quick /pj/ glide between /p/ and /ju/. 3) Stress misplacement: many pronounce as de-PY-ty or de-pty; ensure primary stress stays on DEP. Correct by practicing /ˈdɛpjuti/ with crisp /d/ and subtle /pj/.
In US English, the vowel in /ˈdɛ/ is open-mid front; /pj/ is a distinct palatal onset; the ending /juːti/ becomes /juːti/ or /juˌti/. In UK English, /ˈdɛpjəti/ often features a softer /ɪ/ or reduced final vowels; final /ti/ is often a clipped /ti/. Australian English typically exhibits a similar /ˈdɛpjəti/ with a less intense final vowel due to broader vowel shifts; the rhoticity is non-rhotic in UK/AU variants, but US variants are rhotic, though deputy usually lands softly on final syllable. Overall, the first syllable remains stressed in all.
Two main challenges: the /pj/ cluster after /p/ can be tricky, because you move from a plosive consonant to a palatal approximant quickly; keep it light and continuous rather than stopping between /p/ and /j/. The second challenge is the light, unstressed final syllable /ti/ in fast speech; train the ending to be a short, clipped /ti/ or a schwa-less transition depending on dialect. Practice by saying DEP-yo-tee slowly, then speed up while maintaining the glide.
In standard varieties, the final 'ty' yields a clear /ti/ or /ti/ reduced to a quick /t i/ in fluent speech; it is rarely silent in normal conversation. Some rapid speech may reduce the vowel to a nearly syllabic consonant or alveolar stop with a very brief vowel, but the /t/ generally remains audible. The crucial element is keeping the initial DEP clear and ensuring the /j/ glide blends smoothly into the following vowel.
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- US: Strong /ˈdɛpjuti/ with a pronounced /ə/ or /j/ after /p/; rhotic M: final /i/ remains, but in casual speech you might hear /ˈdɛpjəti/ with a shorter final vowel. - UK: /ˈdɛpjəti/ with looser final syllable; non-rhotic, but final 'ti' often pronounced as /tɪ/ or /ti/ depending on speed. - AU: /ˈdɛpjəti/ with a flatter, less defined final vowel; similar to UK but more clipped. - Vowel focus: the mid-front vowel in DEP is central to the word’s identity; ensure you keep /ɛ/ distinct from /e/ or /æ/ depending on accent. - Consonant focus: the /p/ is unaspirated when followed by /j/; avoid building extra breath. The /d/ is a voiced stop; avoid overly aspirating it. - Practice cue: place your tongue tip behind the upper teeth for /d/ and then quickly lift the blade of the tongue to glide into /pj/; keep lips relaxed for the /u/ sound and finish with a light /ti/.
Deputy comes from Middle English deputie, from Old French deputé, from Latin deputatus, past participle of deputare meaning to allot, assign, or appoint. The root idea is a person who has been entrusted to act on another’s behalf. The form evolved in English during the medieval period as governance and administrative institutions required secondary officials. The term first appears in English in the 14th century as deputie or deputye, with spellings solidifying into deputy by the 15th century. Over time, beyond legal offices, deputy broadened to various professional and organizational roles, implying delegated authority rather than formal ownership of responsibility. In modern usage, deputy is common in public administration (deputy minister, deputy mayor), law enforcement (deputy sheriff), and corporate settings (deputy manager), often paired with the superior they assist. The word’s semantic shift from a formal title to a generic one reflects evolving organizational hierarchies and the need for clear substitutes when a primary leader is unavailable. The pronunciation settled around the /ˈdɛpjuti/ (US) and /ˈdɛpjəti/ (UK) forms with stress on the first syllable. First known use in English literature appears around the 14th century, aligning with governance and ecclesiastical delegated offices of the era. The word’s consonant structure and vowel quality have remained stable through modernization, making it straightforward in most dialects while still featuring brief, unstressed vowels in certain positions.
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Words that rhyme with "Deputy"
-uty sounds
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