4 syllables: Tem, po, ra, ry. Stress on Tem.
TEM-pur-er-ee
/ˈtɛmpɚˌɛɹi/
Temporary is pronounced TEM-pur-er-ee (/ˈtɛmpɚˌɛɹi/). It has four syllables (Tem-po-ra-ry), with the stress on "Tem". Temporary is an adjective meaning lasting for a limited period or not permanent. It describes something that exists or is used only for a short span, with the intention of being replaced or changed later. In everyday use, it often modifies nouns like work, housing, or arrangements to indicate provisional status.
adjectiveTemporary is an adjective meaning lasting for a limited period or not permanent. It describes something that exists or is used only for a short span, with the intention of being replaced or changed later. In everyday use, it often modifies nouns like work, housing, or arrangements to indicate provisional status.
"They found temporary housing while their new home was being built."
"Her appointment is temporary until a permanent manager is hired."
"The power outage caused temporary delays in the project."
Pronounce as /ˈtɛm.pəˌrɛr.i/ (US) or /ˈtem.pəˌreə.ri/ (UK). The primary stress is on the first syllable TEM, with a secondary stress on the third syllable -rary. Start with a short, crisp 'tem' then the neutral schwa 'ə' in the second syllable, followed by 'ri' or 'ree' in the final syllable; the final vowel is a light 'ee' sound. Tip: keep the 'r' light and avoid over-emphasizing it in non-rhotic accents. Audio reference: you can compare with online dictionaries or pronunciation tools to hear the three-syllable rhythm.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress, saying tem-PO-ra-ry or tem-po-RA- ry; ensure TEM is primary stress. 2) Reducing the second syllable too much, producing /ˈtɛm.pəˌræri/ without the clear /ə/ in the middle; keep a light schwa in the second syllable. 3) Over-emphasizing the final -ary as /-æri/ rather than /-əri/; use a light /-ri/ at the end. 4) R-sound during non-rhotic accents can be omitted; in rhotic accents keep a subtle /ɹ/ for clarity. Practice with minimal pairs and dictation to fix these.
US: primary stress on first syllable /ˈtɛm.pəˌrɛr.i/, notable rhotic /ɹ/ in the final syllable. UK: /ˈtem.pəˈreə.ri/ with non-rhoticity often reducing the /r/ in -ry to a non-rhotic vowel; final /i/ is clearer. AU: similar to UK but with more centralized vowels; the /ə/ in the second syllable remains, and final /i/ can sound closer to /iː/ depending on speaker. In all, maintain TEM as the strongest beat; middle vowel is a light schwa, final syllable has a lighter, crisp 'ee' or 'ree' sound depending on accent.
The difficulty lies in the three-syllable rhythm with a tricky middle schwa and a final unstressed -ary sequence. The sequence /ˈtɛm.pəˌrɛr.i/ in US requires a precise /ə/ and a subtle /r/ in the third syllable; non-rhotic listeners may miss the middle r coloring. Also, the shift from open front vowel /e/ to schwa /ə/ and then to a slower /r/ onset presents timing challenges. Practicing the exact stress pattern and linking sounds helps avoid monotone pronunciation.
Is there a silent letter in 'Temporary'? No. The word has all letters pronounced in standard English; the challenge is not a silent letter but the vowel reductions and rhotic/ non-rhotic r sounds depending on accent, and the middle syllable's reduced vowel sound. The sequence requires maintaining a soft, quick transition from /pə/ to /r/ rather than fully enunciating every consonant.
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US: pronounce with rhotic /ɹ/ in -ry; keep middle /ə/ crisp; final /ri/ short. UK: non-rhotic: drop the /r/ in -ry; keep /ˈtem.pə.reə.ri/ with a clear /ə/ in the middle; final vowel length is slight. AU: similar to UK but with more nasal quality; the middle /ə/ remains central; final /ri/ can be a bit shorter, almost /ri/. Reference IPA: US /ˈtɛm.pəˌrɛr.i/, UK /ˈtem.pəˌreə.ri/, AU /ˈtem.pəˌreə.ɹi/.
Temporary comes from the Latin temporarius, meaning 'pertaining to time' (from tempus, tempor- meaning time). The English adoption can be traced to Old French temporaire (14th century) and Medieval Latin temporarius, formed from Latin tempus ‘time’. The root tempus evolved from Proto-Indo-European *tem- meaning ‘cut, divide, or time segment’, reflecting a sense of something bound by a period. In English, the sense shifted from ‘belonging to the time’ to ‘lasting for a limited time’ by the 16th–17th centuries as English speakers described arrangements not intended to be permanent. The word maintains clear ties to time, duration, and provisional status across languages that historically borrow from Latin roots. First known uses surface in legal and administrative texts describing temporary measures or offices, widening to general use in the modern era for anything not permanent, including structures, positions, or conditions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Temporary" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Temporary" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Temporary"
-ary sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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