To pronounce "necessary", say NEC-ess-ary — 3 syllables, IPA /ˈnɛsəˌsɛɹi/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.
necessary
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3
Syllables
9
Letters
/ˈnɛsəˌsɛɹi/
🇺🇸 IPA (US)
/nˈɛsəsəɹi/
🇬🇧 IPA (UK)
"necessary" has 3 syllables: nec-ess-ary. It rhymes with extraordinary and contemporary, if that helps it stick.
noun
adjective
“Although I wished to think that all was false, it was yet necessary that I, who thus thought, must in some sense exist.”
“If it is absolutely necessary to use public computers, you should plan ahead and forward your e-mail to a temporary, disposable account.”
Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.
Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.
"Necessary" has 3 syllables: nec · ess · ary.
The IPA transcription of "necessary" is /ˈnɛsəˌsɛɹi/.
Necessary: (usually with the definite article) A place to do the "necessary" business of urination and defecation: an outhouse or lavatory.
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