5 syllables: li, be, ra, li, ty. Stress on ra.
lib-ur-AL-uh-tee
/ˌlɪˌbɝˈæləˌti/
liberality is pronounced lib-ur-AL-uh-tee (/ˌlɪˌbɝˈæləˌti/). It has five syllables (li-be-ra-li-ty), with the stress on "ra". Liberality refers to a generous, openhanded spirit or the willingness to give or share freely. It can describe a lack of stinginess or a broad-minded approach, especially in charitable or liberal political contexts. The term emphasizes generosity of resources or attitudes, often contrasted with rigidity or parsimony.
Liberality refers to a generous, openhanded spirit or the willingness to give or share freely. It can describe a lack of stinginess or a broad-minded approach, especially in charitable or liberal political contexts. The term emphasizes generosity of resources or attitudes, often contrasted with rigidity or parsimony.
"Her liberality toward charitable causes impressed the volunteers."
"The committee valued the donor's liberality and funded the new shelter."
"In a culture of liberality, people are quick to share their knowledge and resources."
Pronounce as /ˌlɪbərˈæləti/ (US/UK common). Start with ‘li-’ as in liberal, stress the third syllable: -RA- in -ality. The sequence is li-bə-RAL-i-ty in some fast speech; in careful speech, clearly pronounce /æ/ in the stressed syllable. The final -ty is typically /ti/ or a light /ti/ after the /l/.
Common errors include misplacing the primary stress (placing it on the first or second syllable) and reducing /æ/ to a schwa in the stressed /æ/ syllable. Another frequent mistake is running the final -ty as /ti/ with reduced clarity, or blending /ri/ into a syllable without a distinct /r/ and /l/ separation. Correct by practicing the three clearly separated syllables: li-ber-AL-i-ty with /ˌlɪbərˈæləti/ and emphasizing /æ/ in the stressed syllable.
- US: /ˌlɪbərˈæləti/ with rhotic /r/ and clear /ɚ/ in the second syllable. - UK: /ˌlɪbəˈræləti/ often with non-rhotic /r/ and a shorter second syllable. - AU: /ˌlɪbəˈræləti/ similar to UK but with Australian vowel qualities, slightly broader /æ/ and less rhotic emphasis in casual speech. In all, the primary stress lands on the third syllable (æ-L), but rhoticity and vowel quality shift subtly by region.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic structure and the /r/ and /l/ sequences within two unstressed syllables around a stressed /æ/. The sequence li- ber- A-li- ty requires precise tongue positioning: a relaxed initial /ɪ/ or /ɪə/ variant, the rhotic /r/ followed by a light /ə/ in British English, and a clearly enunciated /æ/ in the stressed syllable. Slow it down to place stress on /æ/ and ensure the /l/ and /t/ transitions are clean.
Yes. The 'ber' in /ˈlɪbər/ can be reduced in rapid speech; you should aim for a clear /bɜr/ or /bər/ with a light r-colored schwa depending on accent. In American pronunciation, you may hear /ˌlɪbərˈæləti/ with a pronounced /r/ in the second syllable; in British and Australian speech, the /r/ often becomes non-rhotic, so /ˌlɪbəˈræləti/. Keep the vibro-phonetic movement precise for the alveolar stop /b/ and the following /ər/ sequence.
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Liberality comes from the Latin liberālis, meaning ‘of or pertaining to freedom, free, generous.’ Liberālis itself derives from liber, ‘free.’ In Latin, the adjective liberālis evolved to describe qualities of freedom, generosity, and broad-minded conduct. The term passed into Old French as liberalité and then into Middle English as liberality or liberalitie, retaining the sense of openness and generosity. Over centuries, liberality broadened from moral or charitable generosity to include liberal attitudes and broad-minded policies in politics and religion. The sense of ‘freedom from stinginess’ persisted, and by the 16th–18th centuries it was common in English to describe individuals or institutions as exhibiting liberality in gift-giving, patronage, and tolerance. First known uses in English appear in religious and philosophical discourse addressing generosity and liberty of mind.
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Words that rhyme with "liberality"
-me) sounds
-ity sounds
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