3 syllables: Li, ta, ny. Stress on Li.
LIT-uh-nee
/ˈlɪtəni/
Litany is pronounced LIT-uh-nee (/ˈlɪtəni/). It has three syllables (Li-ta-ny), with the stress on "Li". Litany is a long, formal recitation or prayer sequence, typically a repeated liturgical formula chanted by a group. In broader use, it denotes a taxing or repetitive listing of items or complaints. The term connotes ritual, solemnity, and a pattern of invocation that emphasizes cadence and order.
nounLitany is a long, formal recitation or prayer sequence, typically a repeated liturgical formula chanted by a group. In broader use, it denotes a taxing or repetitive listing of items or complaints. The term connotes ritual, solemnity, and a pattern of invocation that emphasizes cadence and order.
- You often pull too much length into the middle syllable, turning /tə/ into /təː/; keep it short and quick. - Some speakers over-articulate the final /ni/, saying /niː/ or adding an extra vowel; aim for a crisp, unstressed /ni/. - Misplacing the primary stress on the second syllable or spreading it across the first two syllables makes the word sound off; keep /ˈlaɪ/ as the strong onset. Correction steps: rehearse with a metronome at a slow tempo, practice minimal pairs to stabilize onset and middle syllable timing, and record yourself to compare with a native reference.
How to Pronounce Litany
"During the service, the priest led the litany, ending each petition with a collective response."
"She recited a litany of complaints about the outdated policy changes."
"The press published a litany of accusations, each backed by documents."
Litany is pronounced LIH-tuh-nee in General American and Australian English, with primary stress on the first syllable. In UK English, it is commonly LAHY-tuh-nee, still stressing the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU - /ˈlaɪtəni/. Mouth posture: begin with a light, elongated /aɪ/ diphthong, then a schwa-like /tə/ and a clear /ni/ ending. You can think of it as LI-TA-NY with smooth reduction on the middle syllable. For audio reference, you can check native speaker resources on Pronounce or Forvo.
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying li-TA-ny instead of LI-TA-ny), over-pronouncing the middle syllable as a full vowel (táh- or tuh- as in 'tatany'), and mispronouncing the final unstressed vowel as a full syllable (pronouncing ‘nee’ too long). Correction: keep stress on the first syllable, reduce the middle to a quick schwa, and end with a clean /ni/ without adding extra vowel length. Practice with slow, deliberate tempo and record yourself to compare with a native reference.
US/UK/AU all share the LI-TA-NY pattern, but there are subtle differences: US often has a slightly shorter /ɪ/ in the final vowel and a stronger /laɪ/ onset, UK may lean toward a slightly longer /aɪ/ and a clipped final /ni/, and Australian tends to a more centralized /ə/ in the middle syllable with a non-rhotic r-influences not affecting this word, keeping /ˈlaɪtəni/. The primary stress remains on the first syllable in all, with minor vowel quality shifts due to rhoticity and vowel merging.
The difficulty lies in the two-consonant cluster at the start and the short, unstressed middle syllable. You must balance a clear /ˈlaɪ/ onset with a quick, reduced /tə/ and a final /ni/ without undue length. Some speakers also devoice the final /i/ or blend the middle syllable. IPA practice helps: focus on keeping the /t/ light, the /ə/ short, and ensuring the final /ni/ has crisp but not overly long vowel quality.
Watch the vowel timing in the middle syllable. Some speakers produce a slightly reduced vowel in /tə/ and an almost syllabic /n/ leading into /i/. The strongest cue is the primary stress on /ˈlaɪ/; ensure you don’t carry over a vowel from the previous syllable or add extra length on the middle syllable. Practicing with minimal pairs (lie vs lay) can help stabilize the onset and the stress pattern.
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- US: rhotic influence is minimal here; focus on a clear /laɪ/ with a tight jaw and a quick, light /t/; the final /i/ should be short, not a long ee. - UK: maintain slightly more clipped middle syllable, with a crisp /tə/ and a slightly longer final /ni/; avoid adding syllable length. - AU: tends to more centralized vowels; keep the /laɪ/ onset bright, middle /tə/ compact, final /ni/ clean, with a relaxed jaw. IPA references: /ˈlaɪtəni/ across dialects, but vowel quality shifts can occur (US /aɪ/ vs UK /aɪ/ that may sound closer to [ai]).
Litany comes from the Latin or Greek root litaniā, from lectus ‘prayer’ or related forms in early Christian usage, evolving in medieval Latin as litania and then litany in Old French via litanie and ultimately into English as litany. The concept originated in Christian liturgical practice, where a sequence of petitions was chanted in a call-and-response format. The word broadened in English to describe any long, tedious, or repetitive list or series of statements, often used metaphorically to describe bureaucratic or ritualized enumerations. First known uses in English appear in the 14th–15th centuries, with religious liturgies cited in ecclesiastical texts. Over time, while its religious sense remains primary in some communities, it has gained secular connotations describing exhaustive or monotonous lists in journalism, politics, and everyday speech. The semantic shift from a sacred sequence to a general tedious enumeration marks its enduring metaphorical appeal, and today it often conveys a sense of ritualized repetition rather than mere enumeration.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Litany" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Litany" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Litany"
-nty sounds
-nny sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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