4 syllables: Ex, em, pla, ry. Stress on em.
ig-ZEM-plur-ee
/ɪˈɡzɛmplɚi/
Exemplary is pronounced ig-ZEM-plur-ee (/ɪˈɡzɛmplɚi/). It has four syllables (Ex-em-pla-ry), with the stress on "em". Exemplary is an adjective meaning representing the best of its kind, serving as a model of excellence. It often describes work, behavior, or performance that is outstanding and worthy of imitation. The term conveys a high standard and is frequently used in formal or evaluative contexts.
adjectiveExemplary is an adjective meaning representing the best of its kind, serving as a model of excellence. It often describes work, behavior, or performance that is outstanding and worthy of imitation. The term conveys a high standard and is frequently used in formal or evaluative contexts.
"Her exemplary conduct during the crisis earned her a commendation."
"The teacher praised the student's exemplary homework and class participation."
"The report highlighted exemplary reduction in emissions over the past year."
Pronounce as /ɪɡˈzɛm.plə.ri/ in US/UK/AU. Break it into four syllables: e- (unstressed) x-EM- (stressed) ple- (second to last) -a-ry (ending). The primary stress sits on the second syllable 'ZEM'. Start with a short, lax initial 'ig' sound, then a clear 'ZEM' with a tense e, followed by a light 'ple' and a soft 'ri' ending. Mouth position: relaxed lips for the 'ig' and 'ri', middle tongue raised for 'ZEM', and a quick, almost schwa 'ə' in the final 'ri'. You can listen to natural pronunciation on Pronounce or Forvo for confirmation.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (say 'ex-EMP-lary' or 'ex-em-PLARY'), and mispronouncing the central vowel as a full 'ee' or 'ay' in the middle. Another frequent misstep is running the ending together as 'ex- em- PLAR-ee' instead of the crisp 'ple-ə-ree'. Correction: ensure the second syllable carries primary stress /ˈzɛm/ and use a weak, almost schwa-like /ə/ in the penultimate and final syllables. Practice with slow, deliberate syllable cuts: ig-ˈzɛm-ple-ə-ree.
In US, UK, and AU, the pronunciation is broadly /ɪɡˈzɛm.plə.ri/ with similar stress on the second syllable. The rhoticity minimally affects the ending; Americans may pronounce the final /ri/ with a slightly more rhotic resonance [ɹi], while non-rhotic UK varieties may sound more like /ɪɡˈzɛm.plə.ri/ with a subtle 'r' absence in coda positions. Australian accent tends to be closer to US in vowel height but often features a fronted /ə/ and a slightly broader diphthong in /ə/ and a crisper /ɹ/. Overall, the primary stress and the middle /ɛm/ vowels remain consistent.
The difficulty comes from its multi-syllabic rhythm, with a strong stress on the second syllable and a sequence of subtle vowel sounds (short /ɪ/ in initial, /ˈzɛm/ with a stressed mid vowel, and the light /ə/ before the final /ri/). The ending /ri/ can be tricky in rapid speech, where the /ri/ reduces to a quick /ri/ or /ri/ with a reduced vowel. The cluster /zɛm/ requires precise tongue placement to avoid blending into /ɪz/ or /zɛm-ɪ/.” ,
A unique query for this word is whether the prefix ex- in exemplary carries a separate pronunciation cue when connected in fluent speech (as in 'ex-emplary results' vs 'exemplary results'). The answer is that the prefix ex- is fused with the root pronunciation and the primary stress remains on the second syllable. In connected speech, you’ll link the first two syllables gently into ig-ˈzɛm, then move to -ple-ə-ree. The 'ex-' itself is not stressed separately; the rhythm hinges on /ˈzɛm/.
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Exemplary comes from the Latin exemplarius, from exemplum meaning 'example' or 'pattern.' The word entered English via Middle French and Latin influence, retaining a sense related to serving as a model or specimen. The core noun exemplum denotes a sample or pattern used for instruction. Over time, exemplary adopted an evaluative tone in English, aligning with its use to label things that are worthy of being emulated due to superior quality. First attested in the late 15th to early 16th centuries, the term progressively specialized in formal writing and education to describe standards of behavior or performance that are paragons or models. The semantic shift from a simple example to a gold standard reflects a broader cultural emphasis on exemplary conduct and achievement as benchmarks. In modern usage, it is common in assessments, academic praise, professional accolades, and policy language to denote superior exemplary qualities.
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Words that rhyme with "Exemplary"
-ry? sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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