How to pronounce arithmetic
Say it like uh-RITH-muh-tik. Arithmetic has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RITH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce arithmetic. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- RITH
- muh
- tik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Arithmetic pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RITHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- muhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- tikGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of arithmetic
American and British speakers say arithmetic in essentially the same way: /əˈrɪθməˌtɪk/ in the US and /əˈrɪθmətɪk/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-RITH-muh-tik.
Other ways to say arithmetic
Arithmetic also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- er-ith-MET-ik /ˌɛrɪθˈmɛtɪk/
What does arithmetic mean?
- The mathematics of numbers (integers, rational numbers, real numbers, or complex numbers) under the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
- Number theory.
- Increasing or decreasing by an arithmetic progression.“Growth in the most mature markets is likely to be arithmetic; on what rational basis could one hope for exponential growth there?”
- Of, relating to, or using arithmetic; arithmetical.“arithmetic geometry”
- Of a progression, mean, etc, computed solely using addition.“arithmetic progression”
Questions about saying arithmetic
How do you pronounce arithmetic?
Say uh-RITH-muh-tik. The American pronunciation is /əˈrɪθməˌtɪk/. In British English it is /əˈrɪθmətɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in arithmetic?
Arithmetic has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RITH). Broken into parts: uh · RITH · muh · tik.
Do Americans and Brits say arithmetic the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈrɪθməˌtɪk/ and the British form is /əˈrɪθmətɪk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.