How to pronounce antibiotic
Say it like an-tee-by-AH-tik. Antibiotic has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (AH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce antibiotic. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- an
- tee
- by
- AH
- tik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Antibiotic pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- anGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- byKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- AHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- tikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of antibiotic
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: an-tih-by-OT-ik.
What does antibiotic mean?
- of or relating to antibiotic drugs
- a chemical substance derivable from a mold or bacterium that can kill microorganisms and cure bacterial infections“when antibiotics were first discovered they were called wonder drugs”
Where does antibiotic come from?
Borrowed from French antibiotique; by surface analysis, anti- + -biotic.
Words that rhyme with antibiotic
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of antibiotic.
Questions about saying antibiotic
How do you pronounce antibiotic?
Say an-tee-by-AH-tik. The American pronunciation is /ˌæntibaɪˈɑtɪk/. In British English it is /ˌæntɪbaɪˈɒtɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in antibiotic?
Antibiotic has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (AH). Broken into parts: an · tee · by · AH · tik.
Is antibiotic pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˌæntɪbaɪˈɒtɪk/ (an-tih-by-OT-ik).