3 syllables: Mar, i, time. Stress on Mar.
MER-uh-teyem
/ˈmɛɹəˌtaɪm/
Maritime is pronounced MER-uh-teyem (/ˈmɛɹəˌtaɪm/). It has three syllables (Mar-i-time), with the stress on "Mar". Maritime is an adjective or noun relating to the sea or to activities involving ships and navigation. In adjective form it describes matters connected with the sea, shipping, or seaborne commerce. As a noun it can refer to a jurisdiction or branch associated with the sea; in practice, it’s most often used as an adjective (e.g., maritime law, maritime climate).
nounMaritime is an adjective or noun relating to the sea or to activities involving ships and navigation. In adjective form it describes matters connected with the sea, shipping, or seaborne commerce. As a noun it can refer to a jurisdiction or branch associated with the sea; in practice, it’s most often used as an adjective (e.g., maritime law, maritime climate).
How to Pronounce Maritime
"The maritime industry faces challenges from climate change and global trade patterns."
"Maritime law governs contracts, torts, and shipping regulations across international waters."
"A maritime climate usually features cool summers and mild, wet winters."
Maritime is pronounced /ˈmærɪˌtaɪm/ in US and UK English, with primary stress on the first syllable and secondary stress on the third syllable. Break it as MA-ri-time, with the -time ending sounding like 'tine' but reduced to /taɪm/. In practice you’ll hear a slight upstep after the first syllable and a light, faster second-to-third syllable transition. Listen for the long i in the final syllable.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (trying ma-RI-side instead of MA-ri-time) and mispronouncing the final -time as a hard 't' followed by a silent 'ime'. To correct: keep primary stress on MA, ensure the final 'time' merges into /taɪm/ with a smooth release, not a clipped /taɪm/ or /tiːm/. Don’t drop the second syllable; say MA-ri-time with three distinct phonetic chunks.
In US/UK, the initial /ˈmær/ reduces the vowel to a near front open-mid sound, with /ɪ/ in the second syllable and /taɪm/ in the final. US speakers may have a slightly more rhotic quality and a pronounced /æɹ/ in some dialects, while UK speakers can have a crisper /ˈmærɪˌtaɪm/ with less rhotic influence; Australian English tends to be non-rhotic with a clear /ɪ/ and a relaxed /taɪm/, sometimes sounding slightly flatter vowels. Focus on maintaining the /æ/ in MA, a quick /r/ if applicable, and a clear /taɪm/ final.
The difficulty lies in blending the three syllables with proper stress: MA-ri-time. The final /taɪm/ includes a diphthong that requires a smooth glide from /aɪ/ to /m/ without a hard stop. The second syllable /ɪ/ should be shorter than the first, creating a subtle rhythmic pattern. For non-native speakers, maintaining the sequence of consonants (r in some dialects, m, t) while avoiding vowel merging can be tricky. IPA cues help you position the tongue and lips precisely.
The key nuance is the subtle secondary stress on the second-to-last syllable in fluent speech, giving a light emphasis to /taɪ/ before the final /m/. It’s not a heavy stress; the main emphasis remains on MA. This secondary emphasis helps the ear distinguish the word from similar terms like 'marine' or 'mariner' in connected speech. Practicing with minimal pairs can make this distinction clear in natural contexts.
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US vs UK vs AU: • US: rhotic or semi-rhotic tendencies; pronounces the /r/ clearly across syllables; /æ/ in MA, /ɪ/ in second, final /aɪm/ with strong glide. • UK: often non-rhotic; /r/ is not pronounced unless followed by a vowel; aim for /ˈmærɪˌtaɪm/ with a crisper /ɪ/ and lighter final. • AU: generally non-rhotic; the vowel quality in MA may be slightly broader; maintain /ˈmærɪˌtaɪm/ with a relaxed, open /æ/ and a slightly streamlined final /taɪm/. IPA references: US /ˈmærɪˌtaɪm/, UK /ˈmærɪˌtaɪm/, AU /ˈmærɪˌtaɪm/.
Maritime derives from late Middle English and Medieval Latin roots. The word combines the Latin mare, mari- meaning sea, with the English adjective-forming suffix -time or -tide (in practice, maritime as a blend of sea-related roots with ship-and-tide connotations). The sense evolved from general “of the sea” to a formal descriptor for law, commerce, and matters connected to navigation and shipping. The first known uses appear in English texts of the 14th to 15th centuries, particularly in maritime law, maritime trade, and maritime geography, reflecting growing seafaring economies and legal regimes governing vessels and maritime conduct. Over time, maritime broadened to describe climates, institutions, and organizations tied to the sea, preserving its core sense of sea-adjacent activity while expanding into legal, educational, and scientific domains.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Maritime" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Maritime" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Maritime"
-te) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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