English pronunciation · Words Starting with O
Obligatory Pronunciation
Obligatory is pronounced uh-BLI-guh-taw-ree, IPA /əˈblɪgəˌtɔri/.
uh-BLI-guh-taw-ree
US /əˈblɪgəˌtɔri/ · UK /əˈblɪgətəˌri/
Syllables: uh · BLI · guh · taw · ree (5 syllables, stress on syllable 2)
adjective: Required by a rule or by custom.
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Obligatory in a Sentence
- Attendance at the first session is obligatory.
- He made the obligatory joke about the weather.
- A deposit is obligatory for new tenants.
Common Mispronunciations of Obligatory
Not OB-li-guh-taw-ree
BLI in second place is the only loud beat among the five, and the opening uhb barely registers.
Not uh-BLY-guh-taw-ree
The stressed vowel is short here, although the verb oblige stretches its own to a long eye.
Tip: British speakers compress the ending to truh-ree or even tree, while Americans keep a clear taw in it.
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