3 syllables: flat, ter, y. Stress on flat.
/ˈflæ.tə.ɹi/
Say it backFlattery refers to insincere praise or compliments intended to persuade or please someone. It often involves excessive or manipulative praise, especially to gain favor or advantage. In usage, it can be seen as either a social lubricant or a tactical bid, depending on the speaker’s intent and context.
"She detected the flattery and dismissed it as mere lip service."
"The politician avoided flattery and spoke earnestly about policy."
"His flattery irritated her; she preferred honest feedback."
Pronounce it as /ˈflætəri/ in US and UK IPA. Start with FLAT as in flat, then -er- sounds like “uh” (/ə/), and finish with -y /i/ as in “ee.” The primary stress is on the first syllable. In careful speech you’ll hear full /t/ release before the /ə/ vowel. For audio, imagine saying “FLAT-uh-ree” with a light, quick ending. IPA reference helps: /ˈflætəri/.
Common errors include merging the second syllable into the first (
In rhotic accents you’ll hear a clearer /r/ before the -y (in some speakers), while non-rhotic varieties may drop linking /r/. Vowel quality of the /æ/ in FLAT changes slightly with American vs British tendencies; Australian may exhibit a centralized vowel in the second syllable. Overall, the nucleus /æ/ remains prominent, but rhythm and linking vary.
The difficulty centers on the /æ/ vowel in the first syllable and the /ə/ schwa in the second, which can be reduced or stressed depending on emphasis. The cluster /flæt/ followed by /əri/ requires precise tongue positioning to avoid a strained /t/ and to keep the /r/ soft in rhotic varieties. Practicing with minimal pairs helps stabilize the transition from /æ/ to /ə/.
The primary unique challenge is the light, unstressed final /ri/ sequence. Speakers often produce a weak /i/ or omit the /r/ in non-rhotic dialects. Emphasize a clean /r/ or avoid linking depending on your target accent, and ensure the final syllable carries a clear /ri/ or a reduced /ri/ in rapid speech.
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Flattery comes from the Middle English flaterie, borrowed from Old French flatterie, itself from flatter (to flatter). The root is from Latin flatĕre meaning to flatter or please, linked to Latin flatare “to blow, puff,” by metaphorical extension to lavish praise. In Middle English, flattery carried both neutral and negative connotations but increasingly took on a pejorative sense as praise was tied to manipulation. By the Early Modern period, writers distinguished flattery as disingenuous praise used to gain advantage, separating it from sincere admiration. The term appeared in English literature by the 13th–14th centuries and has remained a stable concept in social psychology and rhetoric, often framed in discussions of persuasion, politeness, and social strategy. Across cultures, the term persists with similar tensions between politeness and manipulation, reflecting universal social dynamics where praise can influence decisions and opinions, sometimes masking true intent behind agreeable language.
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Words that rhyme with "flattery"
-ery sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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