3 syllables: Pen, al, ty. Stress on Pen.
PEN-uhl-tee
/ˈpɛnəlti/
Penalty is pronounced PEN-uhl-tee (/ˈpɛnəlti/). It has three syllables (Pen-al-ty), with the stress on "Pen". Penalty is a noun referring to a punishment or consequence imposed for breaking rules, often in sports or law. It can also denote a chargeable fault that results in such punishment. The term carries formal, regulatory connotations and is frequently used in legal, administrative, and athletic contexts.
nounPenalty is a noun referring to a punishment or consequence imposed for breaking rules, often in sports or law. It can also denote a chargeable fault that results in such punishment. The term carries formal, regulatory connotations and is frequently used in legal, administrative, and athletic contexts.
"The team faced a penalty after the foul."
"He paid the penalty for his actions when he was fined by the court."
"A major penalty was called in the hockey game for interference."
Pronounce as /ˈpɛnəlti/. The stress is on the first syllable: PEN-uhl-tee. Start with /p/ followed by /ɛ/ (as in 'pen'), then a reduced /ə/ in the second syllable, and finally /lti/. Tip: keep the second syllable short and light, then land the final /i/ as a quick ee. Listen for a crisp initial consonant cluster and a gentle middle vowel.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (pen-AL-ty), over-articulating the middle syllable (/æl/ or /aː/), and treating the final -ty as a full syllable (/ti/ rather than /ti/ with a light schwa). Correct by: keeping middle syllable reduced /əl/ and ending with a short /ti/. Practice with minimal pairs like ‘pen’ vs ‘penalty’ and ensure the final /ti/ stays light and quick.
US: /ˈpɛnəlti/ with a clear /ɛ/ and a slightly rhotic /r/ is not present here; UK: /ˈpenəlti/ with a shorter /ɪ/ timing and less prominent final vowel in fast speech; AU: /ˈpenəlti/ similar to UK, often with broader vowel quality and a tendency toward non-rhoticity. In all, the rhythm remains three syllables with stress on the first; the main variation is vowel quality and the degree of vowel reduction in the middle.
The difficulty centers on the three-syllable structure with a stressed first syllable and a reduced middle vowel. English tends to compress the middle syllable to /əl/ or /ə·l/ in connected speech, which can be easy to over-articulate as /æl/ or /æ/. Also, the final /ti/ can sound like /tiː/ if you don’t lightly reduce it. Focus on keeping the sequence PEN-uhl-tee with a quick, light middle and a crisp initial /p/.
Some learners wonder if the middle /ə/ should be a true schwa in all contexts. In connected speech, yes, the middle syllable is typically a reduced /ə/ (schwa) in careful or slow speech, but in very careful or emphatic speech you may hear a fuller /əl/ or even /ɛl/ if required by emphasis. The key is to keep it lighter than the first syllable and shorter than the final /ti/.
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Penalty comes from Old French penalité, which itself derives from Latin poena, meaning ‘penalty, punishment.’ The word appeared in English by the 14th century, initially in legal contexts to denote punishment for breaches of law. Its usage broadened in the 16th–18th centuries to sports and regulatory settings, where a ‘penalty’ both designates a punitive consequence and, in games like football and hockey, a specific sanction (e.g., penalty kick) with defined rules. The semantic shift from general punishment to codified sanctions reflects broader societal codification of rules and consequences. The root poena connects to other terms for pain or punishment across Romance languages, underscoring a shared lineage in denoting penalties imposed for transgressions. First known use in English literature appears in medieval legal prose, aligning with the rise of formalized punishment and the development of penal systems in Europe. In modern English, penalty remains a flexible term used in law, sports, insurance, and everyday language to signify a consequence imposed for failing to comply with rules or standards.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Penalty" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Penalty" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Penalty" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Penalty"
-ity sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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