Pronunciation

How to pronounce “international

“international” is pronounced /ˌɪntɚˈnæʃənəl/ (in-tuh-NA-shuh-nuhl) in American English and /ɪntənaʃənəl/ in British English, and /ˌɪnɚˈnæʃənəl/ is also accepted — 5 syllables, stressed on “nat”.
The sound

Say “international” in 5 beats

Say it like this

international

/ˌɪntɚˈnæʃənəl/

The voice you hear here is American; the British form is /ɪntənaʃənəl/ (see the table below), and a British voice is available in the app's settings.

5 beats
  1. inɪn
  2. ter
  3. natstress
  4. ionʃə
  5. alnəl
IPA (American)
/ˌɪntɚˈnæʃənəl/
IPA (British)
/ɪntənaʃənəl/
Also accepted
/ˌɪnɚˈnæʃənəl/
Respelling
in-tuh-NA-shuh-nuhl
Syllables
5 — in-ter-NAT-ion-al
Stress
Stress the third syllable: in-ter-NAT-ion-al. “nat” is longer, louder and a step higher; the other syllables fall away from it.
Part of speech
noun, adjective
Difficulty
Beginner — most learners get this on the first take
Accents

American and British are not the same here

American

/ˌɪntɚˈnæʃənəl/

British

/ɪntənaʃənəl/

No audio here: sayit’s voice is American, so a British button would play the American word. Read the transcription instead.

Meaning

What “international” means

  1. noun

    any of several international socialist organizations

  2. adjective

    concerning or belonging to all or at least two or more nations

    international affairs

  3. adjective

    from or between other countries

    external commerce

Say it in a sentence

The airport handles both domestic and international flights.
Sound by sound

The sounds inside this word

7 sounds, in the order you say them

Each sound has its own page: where the tongue goes, what it is usually confused with, and words to drill it on.

Questions

international”, answered

How do you pronounce “international”?

“international” is pronounced /ˌɪntɚˈnæʃənəl/ (in-tuh-NA-shuh-nuhl) in American English and /ɪntənaʃənəl/ in British English, and /ˌɪnɚˈnæʃənəl/ is also accepted — 5 syllables, stressed on “nat”. Build it as in-ter-NAT-ion-al, then run the third syllable a little longer than the rest and let the others reduce.

How many syllables does “international” have?

5: in · ter · nat · ion · al. The beat lands on the third, “nat”.

Is “international” said differently in British English?

Yes. American English says /ˌɪntɚˈnæʃənəl/ (in-tuh-NA-shuh-nuhl); British English says /ɪntənaʃənəl/. Both are correct — choose the accent you are learning and stay inside it.

What does “international” mean?

As a noun: any of several international socialist organizations For example: “The airport handles both domestic and international flights.” It carries 2 other senses as well — all of them said the same way.

Where is the stress in “international”?

Stress the third syllable: in-ter-NAT-ion-al. “nat” is longer, louder and a step higher; the other syllables fall away from it.

Practise this word

Now say “international” and see every sound

Record it once and sayit lines your audio up against the target sound by sound — what landed, what slipped, and what it sounded like instead.