3 syllables: gra, ti, fy. Stress on gra.
GRAT-uh-feye
/ˈɡɹætəˌfaɪ/
gratify is pronounced GRAT-uh-feye (/ˈɡɹætəˌfaɪ/). It has three syllables (gra-ti-fy), with the stress on "gra". Gratify means to give pleasure or satisfaction to someone, often by fulfilling a desire or providing praise or reward. It can also mean to indulge or satisfy a craving. The term emphasizes producing a positive emotional response in another person, typically through an action, gift, or compliment.
Gratify means to give pleasure or satisfaction to someone, often by fulfilling a desire or providing praise or reward. It can also mean to indulge or satisfy a craving. The term emphasizes producing a positive emotional response in another person, typically through an action, gift, or compliment.
- You may misplace the stress on the second syllable (gra-TI-fy). Keep primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈɡræ.tɪ.faɪ/. - The middle vowel in /tɪ/ can become a schwa or be reduced in rapid speech, which reduces clarity; aim for a crisp /ɪ/ in fast but accurate speech. - The final /faɪ/ can drag into a /faɪ/ or /faɪə/; ensure a clean diphthong /aɪ/ without adding an extra vowel. - Avoid adding an extra syllable or altering the consonant cluster; the /t/ should be a soft, clear stop, not a flap or a merged sound. - Don’t omit the /r/ in environments where you’d naturally voice it; in American English you may hear a subtle /ɹ/ sound before vowels, affecting the flow of /ræ/.
"Her kind gesture gratified her grandmother, who smiled with evident pride."
"The coach's praise gratified the player, reinforcing good effort."
"Fulfilling the project ahead of schedule gratified the team and stakeholders."
Say it as /ˈɡræ.tɪ.faɪ/. Start with the stressed GRĀ sound /ɡræ/ using a short a as in cat, then a quick /tɪ/ syllable, and end with /faɪ/ like 'fly'. The primary stress sits on the first syllable: GRA-tuh-fy. In natural speech, the middle /tɪ/ can be reduced slightly, but keep the /ɡræ/ and /faɪ/ clear. Audio reference: listen for /ˈɡræ.tɪ.faɪ/ in careful dictionary pronunciations.
Common errors: misplacing stress on the second syllable (gra-TI-fy) or giving the final /ɪ/ too long, making /ˈɡræ.tɪˌfaɪ/ awkward. Some speakers insert an extra syllable in the middle, saying /ˈɡreɪ.tɪ.faɪ/ or /ˈɡræˈtiˌfaɪ/. To correct: keep primary stress on GRĀ, ensure the middle is a brief /tɪ/ (not /tiː/), and finish with a crisp /faɪ/; practice with minimal pairs like gratify vs. gratified to sense the difference.
In US, you’ll hear /ˈɡræ.tɪ.faɪ/ with rhotic r and a quick, light middle syllable. UK typically /ˈɡræ.tɪ.faɪ/ similar but with non-rhoticity impacting surrounding vowels; the r is less pronounced. Australian pronunciation aligns with General American/UK in stress, but vowels can be broader; final /aɪ/ remains a clear diphthong, with a slightly more open front vowel quality in some speakers. Overall, the core is the same: GRA-tuh-fy, but vowel quality and rhythm shift slightly by region.
It combines three syllables with a stress on the first and a final diphthong /aɪ/ that can tug the tongue forward. The middle /tɪ/ must stay brief to prevent a stuttered feel; many speakers optionally insert a schwa or reduce it in rapid speech, which can blur the word. The challenge is maintaining a clean onset /ɡ/ and crisp /t/ between syllables while producing the long /aɪ/ at the end; practice helps stabilize the rhythm.
Why is there a potential for a 't' assimilation before the /ɪ/? In careful speech you’ll articulate /tɪ/ distinctly, but in rapid speech some speakers momentarily reduce to a quick /t/ or even near-silent /ɾ/ in casual American speech; the essential is preserving the clear /ɡræ/ onset and the final /faɪ/ nucleus, so listeners still hear the three-syllable pattern.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "gratify"!
- US: Rhotic; keep the /ɹ/ smooth, ensure the /æ/ is short but precise, and keep the middle /tɪ/ short; the /aɪ/ should be a bright, forward diphthong ending with a crisp /ɪ/ to /ɪ/ glide. - UK: Non-rhotic; the /r/ is not pronounced, so the syllables should feel a touch tighter; focus on reduced but clear /tɪ/ and the same /aɪ/ end; the /æ/ might be a touch tenser in some regional accents. - AU: Similar to US with broader vowels; ensure /ɡræ/ keeps the short /æ/ quality and the final /aɪ/ remains distinct; avoid flattening the diphthong in connected speech.
gratify originates from the Middle English gratifien, from Old French gracier or gratifier, from Latin gratus meaning pleasing, agreeable, or dear. The root gratus evolved into several related Latin terms conveying appeal or gratitude, leading to Old French gracier and gratifier, which carried the sense of accommodating, pleasing, or satisfying someone. In English, gratify first appeared in the late 14th or 15th century, initially in the sense of giving pleasure or satisfaction through acknowledgment or reward. Over time, the word broadened to include fulfilling desires, meeting expectations, and providing gratification in a more general sense. The core idea has remained constant: to cause happiness or satisfaction by meeting a need, wish, or desire. The word often collocates with verbs related to giving, satisfying, or pleasing, such as gratify the wishes, gratify the ego, gratify the audience, or gratify curiosity, reflecting its use in both personal and social contexts.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "gratify" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "gratify" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "gratify" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "gratify"
-ify sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
