How to Pronounce "capillary"
The correct pronunciation of "capillary" is kuh-PIL-uh-ree /kəˈpɪləri/. Tap play to hear it, say it into your mic for a free clarity check, and fix the "CAP-il-lary" habit for good.
capillary
/kəˈpɪləri/A very fine blood vessel connecting arteries and veins.
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Record yourself saying “capillary” and get a real, AI-graded pronunciation score with word-by-word feedback — free, no account needed.The Indian-English Mistake: "CAP-il-lary" — and the Fix
| Aspect | Common in India (incorrect) | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Sounds like | Saying 'CAP-il-lary' with the stress on the first syllable. | kuh-PIL-uh-ree /kəˈpɪləri/ |
| Stress | Often on the wrong syllable | Second syllable (PIL). |
How Do You Pronounce "capillary"?
"capillary" is pronounced kuh-PIL-uh-ree /kəˈpɪləri/. The stress is on the second syllable (PIL). As a noun, it means a very fine blood vessel connecting arteries and veins.
In British and Indian-taught English the stress is on the SECOND syllable, PIL — not on 'CAP' at the front.
Note: US stresses the first syllable, /ˈkæpəleri/ ("CAP-uh-ler-ee"); the UK and Indian-taught lead is second-syllable kuh-PIL-uh-ree.
Say "capillary" Step by Step
Break the word down, get the stress right, then blend it back together at normal speed. Repeat each step out loud three times.
Break it into syllables
kuh-PIL-uh-ree — say each part slowly and separately first.
Stress the right part
Second syllable (PIL). Make the stressed syllable a little louder and longer.
Nail the key sound
In British and Indian-taught English the stress is on the SECOND syllable, PIL — not on 'CAP' at the front.
Blend and repeat
Now say "capillary" at normal speed: kuh-PIL-uh-ree. Record yourself and compare.
Minimal-Pair Drills for "capillary" (2 Minutes, Out Loud)
Say each drill line aloud, slowly first, then at normal speed. On the last drill, use the mic check at the top of this page to test yourself.
PILLAR → kuh-PIL-uh-ree
Anchor the loud beat on 'PIL', like the start of 'pillar'.
NOT CAP-il-lary — kuh-PIL-uh-ree
PIL is the loud beat in British/Indian English, not CAP.
Say at speed: "Blood flows through each tiny capillary."
Keep the stress on PIL mid-sentence.
Why "capillary" Is Tricky — and How to Fix It
Why this happens
Indian English evens the word out and rests on the visible first chunk 'CAP', not the correct PIL.
Tip: Move the weight one beat right onto PIL: kuh-PIL-uh-ree.
Hear “capillary” in a Sentence
Read each line aloud with the same rhythm. The word to listen for is in bold.
Blood flows through each tiny capillary.
The capillary walls are very thin.
Water rises by capillary action.
Now say it inside a sentence
Getting "capillary" right on its own is the easy part. Pronunciation only sticks in connected speech. Read a passage aloud and get scored on accuracy and pace, word by word — free, no login.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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