English pronunciation · Words Starting with O

Official Pronunciation

Official is pronounced uh-FI-shuhl, IPA /əˈfɪʃəl/.

uh-FI-shuhl

US /əˈfɪʃəl/  ·  UK /əˈfɪʃəl/

Syllables: uh · FI · shuhl (3 syllables, stress on syllable 2)

adjective and noun: Approved by someone in authority, or a person who holds a position of authority.

Audio for the American and British pronunciations plays on this page with JavaScript enabled.

Official in a Sentence

  • The official figures came out on Tuesday.
  • An official from the council came to inspect the roof.
  • It is not official until the letter arrives.

Common Mispronunciations of Official

Not oh-FI-shuhl

The opening vowel is a murmur, barely a sound at all. A full oh there adds weight the word does not want.

Not uh-fi-see-AL

The -cial ending is a single shuhl. It never separates into see plus al.

More words starting with o · Every word in the pronunciation guide