What is until? Pronunciation and usage in English

until means . Learn how to pronounce and use until through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of until

untilpreposition

/(ə)nˈtɪl//ʌnˈtɪl/
Definition & pronunciation of until

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "until" in English. It's a tricky one for many learners because it's not always pronounced the same way across different English dialects. Here's a breakdown of the most common pronunciations:

1. The Most Common American Pronunciation (and increasingly common in British English):

  • Sounds like: /ˈʌntɪl/ (approximately)
  • Breakdown:
    • “ʌ” – This is a short, relaxed “uh” sound, like in the word "but" or "under". It's the vowel sound at the beginning.
    • “nt” – Pronounced as one syllable, like “int.”
    • “ɪ” – This is a short “i” sound, like in the word "bit" or "sit."
    • “l” – A standard “l” sound.
  • So, it’s roughly: “uhnt-il” (with a quick transition between the "nt" and "il")

2. The Traditional British Pronunciation (Still very common):

  • Sounds like: /ˈtɪl/ (approximately)
  • Breakdown:
    • “tɪ” – This is a longer, more distinct “i” sound, like in “time” or “kite.”
    • “l” – A standard “l” sound.
  • So, it’s roughly: “til” (as in "until" on a clock face)

Here's a helpful comparison table:

Feature American Pronunciation British Pronunciation
Initial Vowel Short "uh" ( /ˈʌntɪl/) Long "i" ( /ˈtɪl/)
“nt” One syllable Separate syllables
Overall Sound “uhnt-il” “til”

Resources to hear the pronunciation:

  • Google Translate: Type "until" into Google Translate and click the speaker icon. You'll hear both American and British pronunciations. https://translate.google.com/
  • Forvo: This website has pronunciations from native speakers. https://forvo.com/word/%25until%25/
  • YouTube: Search for “how to pronounce ‘until’” on YouTube – you’ll find many videos demonstrating the different pronunciations.

Which pronunciation should you use?

  • If you’re speaking to Americans, the /ˈʌntɪl/ pronunciation is generally preferred and will be understood.
  • If you’re speaking to British speakers, the /ˈtɪl/ pronunciation is the standard.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you located? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia?)
  • Who are you typically speaking to? (e.g., friends, classmates, colleagues?)

Usage and examples with the word until in English

Let's break down how to use the word "until" in English. It's a versatile word with a few key ways to use it, but the core concept is stopping something at a specific point in time or a specific event.

Here's a breakdown, categorized by usage:

1. Duration – Expressing a Time Limit

  • Most Common Use: This is by far the most frequent way "until" is used. It indicates how long something will last.

    • Example: “I’ll wait until 6 pm.” (I'll wait for 6 pm – the waiting stops at 6 pm.)
    • Example: “She’ll study until she understands the material.” (She'll keep studying up to the point she understands.)
    • Example: “The store is open until 9 pm.” (The store closes at 9 pm.)

2. Condition – Expressing a Requirement

  • “Until” here means “if not…” or “otherwise…” It sets up a condition that, if not met, will have a result.

    • Example: “Don’t call me until you’ve finished your work.” (Don’t call me unless you've finished your work.)
    • Example: “Wait until you get there.” (Wait only if you get there.)
    • Example: “He won’t travel until he saves enough money.” (He won’t travel if he doesn't save enough money.)

3. Events – Expressing a Time When Something Will Happen

  • "Until" can indicate when an event will conclude.

    • Example: “We’ll meet until lunchtime.” (We’ll meet and continue working up to lunchtime.)
    • Example: “Don't worry until the test is over.” (Don’t worry when the test is over.)

4. With specific times or dates:

  • “Until” is often used with times or dates to show a period that ends at a certain point.

    • Example: “I’ll be here until Friday.” (I’ll be here for the entire period up to and including Friday.)
    • Example: “We’ll stay until the sun sets.” (We’ll stay up to the time the sun sets.)

Key Points & Considerations:

  • “Until” vs. “Till”: "Until" and "till" are generally interchangeable in American English. However, "till" is more common in British English. ("Until" is the safer choice if you're unsure.)
  • Order of words: Generally, “until” goes before the time or event it’s referring to. "Until 6 pm" is correct.
  • It's a connector: “Until” connects two parts of a sentence to show a relationship between them.

Let's Practice!

Complete the following sentences using "until":

  1. I’ll clean my room ___________ I finish my homework.
  2. Don't leave ___________ I come back.
  3. We’ll discuss the plan ___________ we have all the information.
  4. She won’t eat ___________ she’s hungry.

Answers to Practice Sentences:

  1. until
  2. until
  3. until
  4. until

Do you want me to:

  • Give you more examples?
  • Focus on a specific type of usage (e.g., "until" with dates)?
  • Create a quiz to test your understanding?

Synonyms for the word until

Practice with vocabulary until

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The project team will continue working on the report ______ the final deadline on Friday.
  2. Please submit your expense reports ______ the end of the business day for prompt processing.
  3. We cannot proceed with the next phase of development ______ the necessary approvals are granted.
  4. The new security protocol has been in effect ______ the system upgrade last month.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. The meeting is scheduled to run ______ 3:00 PM, but we might finish earlier. a) by b) until c) during d) around

  2. We waited patiently ______ the client confirmed the revised proposal. a) while b) until c) during d) as soon as

  3. The company policy states that employees must not disclose confidential information ______ they receive explicit authorization. a) unless b) without c) until d) before

  4. You should complete the preliminary market research ______ Friday's presentation. a) by b) before c) until d) through

  5. The team demonstrated remarkable resilience ______ the challenging economic conditions. a) despite b) throughout c) during d) until

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. We won't make a final decision on the new software package before we gather more user feedback. Rewrite the sentence using "until" or related word forms.

  2. The construction project will continue uninterrupted, concluding at the end of next month. Rewrite the sentence using "until" or related word forms.

  3. The deadline for submitting all applications is 5:00 PM on Friday. Rewrite the sentence without using "until", using a suitable replacement word.

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. until
  2. by
  3. until
  4. since

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. b) until
  2. b) until
  3. a) unless, c) until
  4. a) by, b) before
  5. a) despite, b) throughout, c) during

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. We won't make a final decision on the new software package until we gather more user feedback.
  2. The construction project will continue uninterrupted until the end of next month.
  3. All applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM on Friday.

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