6 syllables: In, ter, me, di, ar, ies. Stress on me.
in-tur-MEE-dee-er-eez
/ˌɪntɚˈmidiˌɛɹiz/
Intermediaries is pronounced in-tur-MEE-dee-er-eez (/ˌɪntɚˈmidiˌɛɹiz/). It has six syllables (In-ter-me-di-ar-ies), with the stress on "me". Intermediaries (noun) are people or entities that act as go-betweens to facilitate communication, negotiations, or transactions between two or more parties. They provide channels, brokers, or mediating services, often handling information flow, logistics, or dispute resolution. In legal and business contexts, intermediaries can influence outcomes by shaping access, timing, or interpretations of messages.
nounIntermediaries (noun) are people or entities that act as go-betweens to facilitate communication, negotiations, or transactions between two or more parties. They provide channels, brokers, or mediating services, often handling information flow, logistics, or dispute resolution. In legal and business contexts, intermediaries can influence outcomes by shaping access, timing, or interpretations of messages.
"The government used trusted intermediaries to coordinate relief efforts with local communities."
"Financial intermediaries like banks and funds channels savings into investments."
"Trade negotiations often hinge on intermediaries who understand both sides’ regulatory landscapes."
Pronunciation is /ˌɪn.tər.mɪˈdiː.ə.riːz/ in US and /ˌɪn.təˈmɪ.di.ə.riːz/ in UK; in everyday speech many say /ˌɪn.təˈmɪd.i.ˌeɪ.riːz/. The main stress falls on the third syllable: in-ter-MEE-dee-air-eez. Start with a light schwa in the first two syllables, then a clear long E in the stressed syllable, and finish with a light -iz ending. Audio resources: Pronounce or Cambridge dictionary provide native-speaker audio for comparison.
Common mistakes: misplacing stress on the fourth syllable (in-ter-mi-DI-aries); dropping the second syllable vowel (rm-DA as /ˌɪntɚˈmɪd.i.ɹiz/). Correction: keep the stress on the antepenultimate/third syllable: /ˌɪn.tər.mɪˈdiː.ə.riːz/ with clear /ˌiː/ in the stressed vowel; pronounce the -aries ending as /-əriːz/ or /-riːz/ rather than a hard /-riz/. Practice linking consonants smoothly to avoid hiatus between /t/ and /ɛ/.
US: primary stress on the third syllable, /ˌɪn.tər.mɪˈdiː.ə.riz/ or /-iː.iːz/. UK: /ˌɪn.təˈmiː.di.ə.riːz/ with a shorter /ə/ and less rhotacism; AU: /ˌɪn.təˈmiː.dɪ.ə.ɹiz/, with non-rhotic AM? AU often reduces the second syllable vowel slightly and uses a rolled or tapped r depending on speaker. In all, the -aries ending tends to be /-əriːz/ in careful speech.
It's challenging due to the multi-syllabic length, three-to-four consecutive stressed/heavy syllables, and the -di- followed by -aries sequence. The presence of a mid central /ə/ in the first two syllables plus a long /iː/ in the stressed syllable creates vowel-tracking demands; ensure lips stay relaxed, avoid vowel reduction in the stressed syllable, and practice rapid linking between syllables to maintain rhythm.
A unique aspect is the cluster /tər/ followed by /mɪ/ before the stressed /ˈdiː/ in many accents. Native speakers often reduce the first syllable to a quick schwa and push the long /iː/ onto the stressed syllable, but careful speakers maintain a clear /mɪ/ before the stressed di- to avoid slurring the root morpheme. Understanding the rhythm of four syllables helps you keep accuracy under fast speech.
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Intermediaries derives from late Latin intermediarius, from inter- ‘between’ + media ‘middle’; the root media is related to ‘middle’ or ‘between’. The term formed in English in the 17th–18th centuries to describe agents who operate between two sides in trade, law, or diplomacy. Over time, the concept broadened from simply ‘middle person’ to include entities offering intermediary services in finance, technology, and information exchange. The suffix -ary, indicating a person associated with or connected to, is common in professional roles (secretary, secretary, dairary). The sense evolution tracks the institutionalization of mediation: from informal go-betweens to formal roles such as brokers, agents, and compliance intermediaries. First known uses appear in legal and commercial texts of early modern Europe, with parallel use in colonial administration as intermediaries facilitated communications between distant authorities and local populations.
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Words that rhyme with "Intermediaries"
-ies sounds
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