How to Pronounce Preferential

To pronounce "preferential", say PREF-er-ent-ial — 4 syllables, IPA /ˈpɹɛf.ɜː(ɹ)ˌɛn.ʃəl/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

preferential

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Accent

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4

Syllables

12

Letters

/ˈpɹɛf.ɜː(ɹ)ˌɛn.ʃəl/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “preferential”

"preferential" has 4 syllables: pref-er-ent-ial. It rhymes with essential and consequential, if that helps it stick.

What does preferential mean?

adjective

  1. Of or relating to the showing or giving of preference.

    “Club members received preferential seating.”

  2. Of or relating to a voting system in which the voters are allowed to indicate on their ballots their preference (usually their first and second choices) between two or more candidates, so that if no candidate receives a majority of first choices the one receiving the greatest number of first and second choices together is the winner.

    “preferential voting; the preferential system”

Hear “preferential” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with preferential

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

essentialconsequentialinconsequentialpotentialdeferentialquintessentialinfluentialprovidentialtorrentialtangentialsequentialreverential

Related words

advantageousdiscriminatorypreferablepreferencepreferpreferablypreferredfavourite

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "preferential"?▾

"Preferential" has 4 syllables: pref · er · ent · ial.

What is the IPA transcription of "preferential"?▾

The IPA transcription of "preferential" is /ˈpɹɛf.ɜː(ɹ)ˌɛn.ʃəl/.

What does "preferential" mean?▾

Preferential: Of or relating to the showing or giving of preference.

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