How to Pronounce ADVERSARY

Learn how to pronounce adversary correctly by understanding the syllables and which one to stress.

The word adversary is made up of 4 syllables.In British English the 2nd syllable has the stress so the word is pronounced: ad◦VER◦sar◦y

In American English the 1st syllable is stressed and the word is pronounced AD◦ver◦sar◦y.

In the example we see a a father with his arm on his son’s shoulder.
The sentence reads: One psychologist advises parents to view their teenage son or daughter as a partner, not their adversary.

Examples of ADVERSARY from news items with useful collocations in bold:

Here and there are well-preserved ruins of the Samnites, fierce adversaries of the Romans who for centuries remained proudly independent in their mountain stronghold.
Source: The New York Times

But what about next time a foreign adversary tries to sway American politics though cyberwarfare?
Source: The Washington Post

The order, which applies only to future transactions, left many questions unanswered, including how the department will define foreign adversaries and establish criteria to ban companies from selling equipment to the United States.
Source: The New York Times

“By buying products made by our adversaries, we are sending them money without a second thought.”
Source: The Verge

As you might guess, this was a present for a certain 4-year-old who knows seemingly everything about Spidey and the web-slinger’s dastardly adversaries, the Green Goblin, Venom and, of course, Doctor Octopus.
Source: The Washington Post

The former Manchester United manager was right to worry about Klopp revitalising his old adversaries but wrong about how he would put Liverpool back on their perch.
Source: The Guardian

Now you know how to pronounce ADVERSARY in both British and American English, look for opportunities today to use the word in your conversation.

You may also be interested in another word that causes confusion with pronunciation – Enclave. Click here:
How to Pronounce ENCLAVE

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Slides 4 - father and son
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