3 syllables: Vel, lei, ty. Stress on lei.
vel-LEE-tee
/vɛlˈliːti/
Velleity is pronounced vel-LEE-tee (/vɛlˈliːti/). It has three syllables (Vel-lei-ty), with the stress on "lei". Velleity is a mild, unrealized or half-hearted wish or desire; a fleeting or aspirational intention that lacks the energy to translate into action. As a noun, it denotes a mere wish, without commitment or effort, often contrasted with a stronger resolve. It’s used in literary or formal contexts to describe a person’s faint inclination rather than a concrete plan.
nounVelleity is a mild, unrealized or half-hearted wish or desire; a fleeting or aspirational intention that lacks the energy to translate into action. As a noun, it denotes a mere wish, without commitment or effort, often contrasted with a stronger resolve. It’s used in literary or formal contexts to describe a person’s faint inclination rather than a concrete plan.
"Her velleity of starting her own company remained just that—a velleity for many years."
"Despite his velleity, he never followed through with the project."
"The proposal originated from a velleity rather than a concrete strategic objective."
Velleity is pronounced /vəˈliː.ə.ti/ in US and UK practice, but speakers often say /vəˈlɛɪ.ɪ.ti/ in more casual contexts or depending on dialect. The primary stress falls on the second syllable: ve-LAY-uh-tee. Start with a schwa in the first syllable, then a clear long E or LEE vowel in the second, followed by a light -i- and -ty ending. For clarity, think: vur-LEE-uh-tee. Audio resources: Cambridge, Oxford, Forvo samples align with /vəˈliː.ə.ti/ in careful pronunciation; listening to these will help you match the rhythm and rhythmical cadence.
Common errors include treating the second syllable as a short schwa (/vəˈlɛ/), and misplacing the primary stress on the first syllable or spreading it over multiple vowels. Another frequent mistake is merging the trailing '-ety' too tightly, producing /vəˈliːəti/ without clear syllable separation. Correct by emphasizing the -li- with a long E sound and keeping the -e- as a separate, light schwa before the final -tee. Practice with slow, deliberate pronunciation: vur-LEE-eh-tee, then gradually increase fluency.
In US and UK, the core is /vəˈliː.ə.ti/ with a strong second syllable. US may tilt to /vəˈliː.ɪ.əti/ depending on speaker, while UK often preserves a slightly crisper /ˈliː/ followed by a clear /ə/ and /ti/. Australian tends to reduce the second syllable vowel slightly more, resulting in /vəˈliː.ə.ti/ with a flattening of the final /i/ to a shorter sound. Overall, rhoticity isn’t a major factor here, but vowel length and the exact quality of /ɪ/ vs /iː/ shift subtly by region.
The difficulty lies in the sequence of mid-stressed syllables and the subtle distinction between /iː/ and /ɪ/ in the second syllable, plus the light, unstressed final -ty which can blur into /ti/ or /tiː/. The initial schwa followed by a strong /liː/ can be tricky for non-native speakers who anticipate a more emphasized stress pattern. Focus on the precise vowel length, keeping the second syllable clearly prominent and the final -ty crisp: vur-LEE-ə-tee.
The unique aspect is the strong secondary stress pattern where the nucleus of the word centers on the second syllable. There are no silent letters in typical pronunciations, but the -e- in -le- forms an elongated vowel sound that isn’t heavily pronounced; the final -ty is not fully stressed. The key is maintaining a clear /liː/ vowel in the second syllable and a crisp, light /ti/ at the end. IPA guidance: /vəˈliː.ə.ti/ or /vəˈliː.ɪ.ə.ti/ depending on dialect.
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Velleity comes from the Latin word velle, meaning “to wish, will.” The suffix -leity was borrowed into English to form abstract nouns describing a quality or state (akin to felicity or severance). The word entered English through classical and Renaissance prose, aligning with other Latinate terms that express mental or volitional states. The earliest attestations appear in 17th–18th century literature, signaling a learned, slightly archaic register. Over time, velleity has retained its precise nuance of a mere inclination or wish without any binding intention or consequential action, standing in contrast to more forceful terms like volition or determination. In modern usage, it often appears in formal or literary discussions about intentions that never materialize, preserving its sense of fragility and unattained aspiration.
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Words that rhyme with "Velleity"
-lly sounds
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