3 syllables: dig, ni, ty. Stress on dig.
DIG-nuh-tee
/ˈdɪɡnəti/
dignity is pronounced DIG-nuh-tee (/ˈdɪɡnəti/). It has three syllables (dig-ni-ty), with the stress on "dig". Dignity refers to a sense of self-respect and worth that commands respect from others. It involves bearing oneself with honor, propriety, and composure in various situations. The term encompasses inherent worth and the social expectation of behaving with reserve and moral integrity. It is often invoked in discussions of ethical conduct, human rights, and personal demeanor.
Dignity refers to a sense of self-respect and worth that commands respect from others. It involves bearing oneself with honor, propriety, and composure in various situations. The term encompasses inherent worth and the social expectation of behaving with reserve and moral integrity. It is often invoked in discussions of ethical conduct, human rights, and personal demeanor.
"She faced the criticism with quiet dignity, refusing to retaliate."
"Maintaining his dignity, he spoke calmly despite the provocation."
"The charity gala celebrated the dignity of every participant and volunteer."
Dignity is pronounced /ˈdɪɡ.nə.ti/ in US and UK English, with primary stress on the first syllable. Break it into DIG - nu - ty. The middle syllable is a schwa /ə/, so your mouth relaxes. The final /ti/ is an unrounded, crisp 'tee' quality. For clarity, say DIG-nu-ty in a smooth, even tempo. Audio reference: typical dictionary pronunciations align with /ˈdɪɡ.nə.ti/ across major dictionaries.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (saying diG-ni-ty) and over-articulating the middle consonant, turning /ɡ/ or /d/ into a more forceful stop. Another frequent error is pronouncing the middle vowel as a full /i/ or /ɪ/ (DIG-NEE-tee or DIG-NAH-tee). Correct by maintaining primary stress on DIG, reducing the middle vowel to a relaxed /ə/, and ensuring the final /ti/ is light. Practice with slow repeats: DIG - nə - tì, then speed up.
In US, UK, and AU there is a consistent /ˈdɪɡ.nə.ti/ pattern; the differences are subtle: rhoticity may affect the following vowel quality in connected speech (slightly more rhoticity in some US speakers), and the /ɡ/ can be lighter in UK/AU due to flapped or softer articulation in rapid speech. The primary stress stays on DIG in all three. Expect minor vowel length differences and smoother linking in UK and AU compared to US in casual speech.
Dignity challenges include maintaining the unstressed middle syllable /nə/ as a soft schwa while keeping the leading /ɡ/ clearly audible. The sequence /ɡn/ can cause blending issues, making /n/ partially assimilate into /ɡ/ for some speakers. Also, producing a crisp final /ti/ without overemphasizing the syllables requires careful tempo control. Focus on DIG (strong), then relax the lower jaw for /nə/, then deliver /ti/ swiftly.
There are no silent letters in dignity, but students often misplace stress or misproduce the /ɡ/ and /t/ sequences in rapid speech. The word is bimoraic at the root: DIG- nə - ti, with DIG carrying primary stress. A helpful tip is to chunk as DIG-ful quietness-ty, using a light, almost vowel-like middle syllable /nə/. Reinforce with slow practice: /ˈdɪɡ.nə.ti/ and then natural speed, ensuring the middle is relaxed and not drawn-out.
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Dignity comes from the Latin dignitas, from dignus ‘worthy, deserving, fitting’ and dignus itself stems from the root dign- meaning ‘worthy, suitable.’ The word entered English via Old French digne and Latin in the medieval to early modern periods, carrying the sense of worthiness and inherent value. Over time, dignity broadened from a mostly moral and social sense of worth—one’s character as fitting for respect—to include the Enlightenment-era emphasis on inherent human worth that merits basic rights. The term appears in legal and philosophical contexts to describe the moral stature of a person or institution, and it has retained that weight in contemporary discourse on human rights, ethics, and personal conduct. First known uses in English documents date to the 14th–15th centuries, with the modern sense crystallizing around the 17th–18th centuries as civil society and human rights language developed, embedding dignity in both individual consciousness and social expectation.
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Words that rhyme with "dignity"
-me) sounds
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