3 syllables: Gra, vi, ty. Stress on Gra.
GRAV-uh-tee
/ˈɡɹævəti/
Gravity is pronounced GRAV-uh-tee (/ˈɡɹævəti/). It has three syllables (Gra-vi-ty), with the stress on "Gra". Gravity is the natural force that attracts objects toward the center of the Earth (or another body with mass). It governs the motion of planets, causes objects to fall, and influences weight. As a noun, it also denotes seriousness or importance in a situation. (2–4 sentences, ~60 words).
nounGravity is the natural force that attracts objects toward the center of the Earth (or another body with mass). It governs the motion of planets, causes objects to fall, and influences weight. As a noun, it also denotes seriousness or importance in a situation. (2–4 sentences, ~60 words)
- You: you might mispronounce gravity by taming the middle vowel too much, making it /ˈɡreɪ.vɪ.ti/ instead of /ˈɡræv.ɪ.ti/. Start with the exact /æ/ in the first syllable, then move to a short /ɪ/ in the second syllable. - You: you might add extra sound to the final '-ty' turning it into /tiː/ or /tiə/. Practice ending with a crisp /ti/ rather than prolonging the vowel. - You: you might drop the 'v' or soften it into a vowel, leading to /ˈɡræri.ti/; keep the /v/ clearly as a voice-onset consonant between /æ/ and /ɪ/ to preserve the gravity. Tips: pace, focus on the three-syllable rhythm (GRAV-ih-tee), and use a short, tight jaw to prevent vowel drift.
How to Pronounce Gravity
"The falling apple reminded him of gravity's pull."
"Scientists study gravity to understand planetary orbits."
"Her performance carried with it a gravity that commanded attention."
You say /ˈɡræv.ɪ.ti/. Stress on the first syllable: GRAV-ih-tee. The 'grav' starts with a hard /ɡ/ and short /æ/ as in 'grab', followed by a light /ə/ or /ɪ/ in the middle, and a crisp /ti/ at the end. Think: 'GRAV-ih-tee'; if you need an audio reference, compare with standard dictionaries' pronunciations in Cambridge/Oxford or Forvo.
Common errors: misplacing stress (say-GRAM-uh-tee), lengthening the middle vowel (GREY-vi-tee), or blending the final 'ty' as 'tye' instead of /ti/. Correct by emphasizing the first syllable, using a short /ɪ/ rather than a lax /i:/ in the middle, and ending with a clean /ti/ rather than a diphthong. Practice with slow repetition and a tapping rhythm to lock the syllables.
US, UK, and AU all share /ˈɡræv.ɪ.ti/ for gravity, but vowel quality can differ: US often has a slightly tenser /æ/ and crisper /ɪ/; UK may show a softer /æ/ and a more clipped /ti/; AU often mirrors US but vowels may be broader, with less rhoticity in some speakers. In all, the first syllable carries primary stress.
The difficulty lies in the rapid sequence GRAV-uh-tee and the short, quick middle /ɪ/ with a light schwa-like transition to /ti/. Many speakers also misplace the stress or blend 'ti' into 'tee' or 'ty.' Focus on the tight articulation of /ˈɡræv/, then a quick, precise /ɪ/ and final /ti/ without vowel dragging.
The word centers the /ɡræv/ onset; the tricky part is avoiding a long 'a' in the middle syllable. Keep the middle vowel short and unstressed (≈ /ɪ/ or schwa), and ensure the final /ti/ is a clean, clipped 'tee.' In rapid speech, you may hear /ˈɡræv.ɪ.tɪ/ in some dialects, but standard careful speech uses /ˈɡræv.ɪ.ti/.
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- US: maintain a slightly tenser /æ/, crisp /ɪ/; ensure non-rhoticity is optional depending on speaker. - UK: may have a softer /æ/ and brisk /ti/ with less vowel color; keep vowels clipped and the final /ti/ precise. - AU: vowels may be broader; keep a consistent short middle vowel; practice with a slight upward intonation on the final syllable in questions. Reference IPA /ˈɡræv.ɪ.ti/ across regions.
Gravity derives from the Latin gravitas meaning 'seriousness, weight, heaviness,' from grav-
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Gravity" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Gravity" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Gravity" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Gravity"
-ity sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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