4 syllables: le, gen, dar, y. Stress on le.
/ˈlɛdʒəˌndɛɹi/
Say it backLegendary describes something famous enough to be remembered in stories or myth, often attributed with exceptional quality or significance. It implies enduring fame across generations and contexts, sometimes bordering on mythic or larger-than-life status. The term conveys a sense of lasting impact and notable status beyond ordinary experience.
- You may over-reduce the first syllable Leg by flattening the vowel to a schwa; instead, keep a clear /ɛ/ as in leg. - Mispronouncing /dʒ/ as /dj/ or /j/; ensure the affricate /dʒ/ blends quickly from /e/ to /n/. - Final -ary often becomes -ree or -ri; keep it short and unstressed as /ri/ or /əri/ depending on accent.
"Her performance at the festival became legendary, talked about by fans for years."
"The lighthouse stood as a legendary symbol of hope for sailors."
"In his career, his comeback was legendary, inspiring countless players."
Pronounce as /ˈledʒənˌdɛɹi/ in US; /ˈledʒəndəri/ in UK; /ˈledʒənˌdɛri/ in AU. Primary stress on the first syllable LEG-, with a secondary stress on -dary in many dialects. Start with a soft L, then the /e/ as in bed, follow with /dʒ/ as in judge, and finish with /ən/ or /əri/. The -ary ending often reduces to /ri/ or /əri/ in fluid speech. Practice by isolating syllables: LEG-en-dar-y, then blend smoothly.
Common errors include misplacing stress (treating it as le-GEN-dary), pronouncing the /dʒ/ as /tʃ/ or /ɡ/; and ending with a non-syllabic or unclear -ary. Correct by sustaining the /dʒ/ as in judge, keeping secondary stress on the -dary, and ensuring the final /i/ or /ɪ/ approaches a short vowel sound. Use the IPA checkpoints: /ˈledʒənˌdɛɹi/ US, /ˈledʒəndəri/ UK, /ˈledʒənˌdɛri/ AU.
US: /ˈledʒənˌdɛɹi/ with rhotic /ɹ/ and clear /ɛ/ in -dɛɹi. UK: /ˈledʒəndəri/ with non-rhotic /r/ and lighter /iː/ or /ə/ in final syllable; AU: /ˈledʒənˌdɛri/ similar to US but with a flatter intonation and vowel qualities closer to /ɛ/ and /ɪ/ depending on speaker. The key differences lie in rhoticity and the treatment of the final syllable vowel.
Difficulties stem from the cluster /dʒ/ after a stressed syllable, the multisyllabic rhythm with a secondary stress, and the final unstressed syllable often reduced to /ri/ or /əri/. Also, the blend of /ən/ into /n/ can cause reducing sounds in fast speech. Focus on the /dʒ/ gesture, keep the tone steady through the second syllable, and practice the final -ary as a light, quick /ri/.
A unique feature is the clear /dʒ/ sound immediately after the stressed first syllable and the optional variation of the final -ary ending; in rapid speech many say it as leg-ən-dary with a lighter, quicker final /ri/. Focus on sustaining the /dʒ/ with a short pause before the final unstressed vowel, and maintain the first syllable stress for the iconic feel.
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- US: rhotic /ɹ/ in final syllable; sustain /dɪ/ in -ary cluster; clear /ɛ/ in first stressed syllable. - UK: non-rhotic /r/; slightly longer vowel in -dery and more schwa-like ending; keep /ə/ before r-less ending. - AU: closer to US with less rhotic emphasis; final vowel /i/ sometimes reduced to /iː/ in careful speech. IPA references: US /ˈledʒənˌdɛɹi/, UK /ˈledʒəndəri/, AU /ˈledʒənˌdɛri/.
Legendary derives from the noun legend, which comes from the Latin legenda ‘things to be read’ (from legere, ‘to read’). In Latin, legenda referred to things to be read aloud, especially in religious or heroic narratives; over time it broadened to refer to traditional stories handed down through generations. The English adjective legendary appeared in the late 16th to early 17th century, initially connected with stories of oracles or heroes and later the broader sense of something celebrated in legend. The root leg- ‘to read’ intersects with mythic storytelling, giving the sense of something widely retold and celebrated. The evolution tracks from concrete tales to abstract qualities associated with fame and mythic status, paralleling the way cultures elevate certain people, events, or works to legendary status. First known use in English is documented in early modern texts where legendary was used to describe heroic exploits or storied figures, before expanding into common usage for anything exceptionally celebrated or famous. Over centuries, the term has retained connotations of enduring significance and larger-than-life status across literature, media, and everyday speech.
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Words that rhyme with "legendary"
-iry sounds
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