4 syllables: Or, di, na, ry. Stress on Or.
AWR-duh-ner-ee
/ˈɔɹdəˌnɛɹi/
Ordinary is pronounced AWR-duh-ner-ee (/ˈɔɹdəˌnɛɹi/). It has four syllables (Or-di-na-ry), with the stress on "Or". Ordinary is an adjective meaning not unusual or different from what is common; it describes things that are standard or everyday. It can also imply dullness or lack of distinction in certain contexts. The word carries a neutral or mildly negative connotation depending on usage and tone.
adjectiveOrdinary is an adjective meaning not unusual or different from what is common; it describes things that are standard or everyday. It can also imply dullness or lack of distinction in certain contexts. The word carries a neutral or mildly negative connotation depending on usage and tone.
"The meeting felt ordinary, with nothing unexpected on the agenda."
"She wore an ordinary dress, nothing flashy or fancy."
"The town is filled with ordinary shops rather than luxury brands."
Pronounce it as /ˈɔːr.dɪ.nə.ri/ in US/UK/Australian English, with primary stress on the first syllable. Break it into four syllables: OR-din-ar-y. Start with an open back vowel /ɔː/ for 'or,' then a light /d/ before a short /ɪ/ in 'din,' then a schwa /ə/ in 'ar,' and finish with /i/ or /iː/ and a light /ɹ/ if rhotic. Visualize your mouth opening wide for 'OR,' then quick, relaxed consonants for the middle, ending with a clear 'ee' sound but not drawn-out.
Common errors include over-pronouncing the middle 'din' as a long /dɪː/ or /dɪn/ with too much vowel length, and misplacing the stress by softening the first syllable to 'or-DI-na-ry' or flattening to 'OR-di-nə-ree.' Another frequent slip is reducing /ɔː/ to /ɑ/ or /ɔ/ in some accents. The fix: keep the first syllable strong /ˈɔːr/ with a clear, brisk /d/ and a short, unstressed /nə/ before a final /ri/.
In US English, the first syllable often carries strong /ɔː/ or /ɑɹ/ depending on rhoticity, with a light /ɹ/ at the start of the final syllable and a schwa in the middle. UK speakers typically use /ˈɔː.dɪ.nə.ɹi/ with non-rhotic /r/ and a very short /ə/; AU English aligns closely with UK, but may feature a sharper /ɹ/ in the final syllable and slight vowel shortening in casual speech. Core differences center on rhoticity, vowel quality of /ɔː/ vs. /ɒ/ or /ɜː/, and the treatment of the final -ry.
The challenge lies in the sequence of closely spaced sounds: the long first syllable /ˈɔːr/ combined with the alveolar /d/ immediately before a light /ən/ or /nə/ and then a fast /ri/ at the end. Many non-native speakers merge /ɔː/ with /ɒ/ or blur the /r/ sound, while others over-articulate the final /ri/. Focusing on a clean break between 'OR' and 'din,' and keeping the middle syllable light but distinct helps stabilize the rhythm.
A distinctive aspect is the light, unstressed middle syllable 'din' as /dɪ/ or /dnə/ depending on accent, which can be reduced to a schwa in casual speech. This makes the pronunciation stretch over four syllables without a heavy emphasis on the middle, creating a smooth, flowing rhythm: /ˈɔːr.dɪ.nə.ri/ or /ˈɔː.dɪ.nə.ɹi/ with subtle differences in the /ɪ/ vs /ə/ realization.
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US: rhotic /r/ is pronounced; /ɔːr/ becomes more like /ɔɹ/ in many dialects. UK: non-rhotic /r/; the final /ɹi/ may be realized as /ə.ɹi/ with a silent or weak /r/. AU: mix of rhotic tendencies; final /ri/ often close to /ɹi/ with a light /ə/ before it. Vowels: /ɔː/ in stressed first syllable; /ɪ/ or /ɪ/ in second; /nə/ as a reduced syllable; final /ri/ as /ri/ or /ɹi/ depending on accent. IPA references: /ˈɔːr.dɪ.nə.ɹi/ (US/UK/AU general).
Ordinary originates from Middle English ordinare, from Old French ordinarie, from Latin ordinarius 'regular, normal, ordinary,' from ordo 'order, rank.' The Latin term denoted something arranged by rule or class, as opposed to special or extraordinary. Over time, ordinarie was adapted into English via Norman influence, maintaining the sense of “in accordance with order” or “commonly accepted.” In Middle English, ordinary referred to things that were part of the standard order or routine. By the early modern period, ordinary broadened to describe things that were not remarkable or exceptional in various contexts, including everyday life, common objects, or mundane conditions. The semantic shift from “ranked or classed” to “not notable” reflects a gradual attenuation of value. Today, ordinary retains two facets: neutral, describing typicality, and occasionally pejorative, implying dullness or lack of imagination depending on tone and context.
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Words that rhyme with "Ordinary"
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