English pronunciation · Words Starting with F

Female Pronunciation

Female is pronounced FEE-mayl, IPA /ˈfiˌmeɪl/.

FEE-mayl

US /ˈfiˌmeɪl/  ·  UK /ˈfiːmeɪl/

Syllables: FEE · mayl (2 syllables, stress on syllable 1)

noun and adjective: Of the sex that can bear young or produce eggs, or a person or animal of that sex.

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Female in a Sentence

  • The female of the species is slightly larger.
  • Three of the four candidates are female.
  • Female voters decided the last election.

Common Mispronunciations of Female

Not fuh-MAYL

Male sits inside the spelling but not inside the stress. The word is FEE-mayl with all its weight up front, so it never rhymes with detail.

Not FE-mayl

Stretch the opening vowel into a long ee, as in fee and free. A short e turns the first syllable into fem, which belongs to feminine instead.

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