3 syllables: Pec, ca, ry. Stress on Pec.
PEK-uh-ree
/ˈpɛkəɹi/
Peccary is pronounced PEK-uh-ree (/ˈpɛkəɹi/). It has three syllables (Pec-ca-ry), with the stress on "Pec". Peccary is a medium-sized, pig-like hoofed mammal native to the Americas, especially deserts and savannas. It belongs to the family Tayassuidae and is notable for its coarse fur and elongated snout. The term is often used in zoological or ecological contexts, and it can appear in discussions of wildlife, conservation, and animal behavior.
nounPeccary is a medium-sized, pig-like hoofed mammal native to the Americas, especially deserts and savannas. It belongs to the family Tayassuidae and is notable for its coarse fur and elongated snout. The term is often used in zoological or ecological contexts, and it can appear in discussions of wildlife, conservation, and animal behavior.
"Researchers tracked the peccary herds to study their social structure."
"The desert-dwelling peccary adapts to hot conditions with its tough, stocky body."
"Conservationists worry that habitat loss threatens certain peccary species."
- Pronounce as puh-KAR-ee with primary stress on the second syllable. In IPA: /pɪˈkɑːri/ (US) or /pəˈkæri/ depending on accent; most American speakers say /pəˈkɑːri/ or /pɪˈkɑri/. Lips: close to neutral, with a small rounded o? Wait, ensure accurate: standard US is /pɪˈkɑːri/; UK /pɪˈkɑːri/; Australian /pəˈkæri/. You’ll place the tongue high back for /ɪ/ to start, then drop to /ˈkɑː/ with the jaw open, and finish with /ri/ with a light 'ee' sound. Audio reference: use Cambridge or Forvo entry for “peccary.”
Two common errors: (1) stressing the first syllable instead of the second; ensure the main stress is on /ˈkɑː/ (pe-CAR-y). (2) mispronouncing the final -ary as a long /i/; instead, end with a short /ri/ or a reduced /ri/ depending on pace. Practice with: pə-ˈkɑr-i. Keep the /k/ firmly released, avoid turning it into /t/ or /g/.
In US/UK, initial vowel tends to be a muted schwa in the first syllable: /pə-ˈkɑːr-i/. The second syllable carries primary stress: /ˈkɑː/ with a longer vowel before /ri/. In Australian English, the vowel in the first syllable may be a more centralized /ɪ/ or /ə/, and the final -ary often has a clipped /ri/ with less vowel length. Rhoticity is present in all three; the /r/ is pronounced before a vowel in rhotic accents. IPA: US/UK: /pəˈkɑː ri/; AU: /pəˈkæri/ or /pəˈkeəri/ depending on speaker.
Two challenges: the internal vowel sequence /ə-ˈkɑːr/ can be tricky if you’re used to alternatives like /pɪ-/ or /pɛ-/. The second syllable hosts a heavy consonant cluster /kɑːr/, and then a light /i/ in a rapid sequence. Also, the final -ary can trigger a vowel reduction in fast speech. Focus on the steep syllable boundary and ensure the second syllable has clear /ɑː/ before the final /ri/.
In rapid or casual speech, many speakers reduce unstressed vowels. For peccary, the final -ary syllable often remains light, with a reduced or short /i/ or /ɪ/ in some dialects. It is safer to maintain a clear /i/ in careful speech, especially in formal contexts or wildlife presentations. Check local speaker tendencies in interviews or documentaries for nuance.
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Peccary originates from the Carib and Arawak languages of the Caribbean and northern South America, reflecting indigenous knowledge of these animals. The word entered English via early explorers and naturalists in the 17th–18th centuries as they catalogued South American fauna. The taxonomic name Tayassuidae mirrors the animal’s pig-like features; the genus Pecari includes species like Pecari tajacu (collared peccary). The term’s meaning broadened from “pig-like creature” to a zoological category, and in some dialects it can be used loosely to refer to small, wild, tailed hoofed mammals in the Americas. Over time, educated usage in science and wildlife writing solidified the current spelling and pronunciation, while popular usage may still vary regionally in informal speech.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Peccary" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Peccary" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Peccary"
-rry sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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