How To Pronounce Theory

In British English, theory is pronounced /ˈθɪə.ri/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [ˈθɪə.ri]. In American English, it is pronounced /ˈθiː.ə.ri/.

Theory has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first syllable. The British and American pronunciations are different, so listen to both.

Slashes / / show the phonemic transcription, the sounds that change meaning. Square brackets [ ] show the phonetic transcription, with the finer detail of how the sounds are actually made.