English pronunciation · Words Starting with I
Inquiry Pronunciation
Inquiry is pronounced in-KWY-ree, IPA /ˌɪnˈkwaɪˌri/.
in-KWY-ree
US /ˌɪnˈkwaɪˌri/ · UK /ɪnˈkwaɪəri/
Syllables: in · KWY · ree (3 syllables, stress on syllable 2)
noun: A question, or a formal investigation into something that went wrong.
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Two Ways to Say Inquiry
The pronunciation changes with the meaning or the part of speech. The form above is the most common; the others are:
- front-stressed, IN-kwuh-ree: (in-kwer-ree)
- /ɪnkwɝri/
Inquiry in a Sentence
- A public inquiry was announced the following week.
- We had an inquiry about the flat this morning.
- The inquiry lasted three years and ran to nine volumes.
Common Mispronunciations of Inquiry
Not in-KWEE-ree
The stressed vowel is the long eye of quiet, matching the verb inquire.
Not IN-kyoo-ree
These two letters spell kw, so losing the second half leaves something closer to injury.
Tip: Both in-KWY-ree and IN-kwuh-ree are standard. British usage leans towards the front-stressed form for a formal investigation.
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