How to pronounce autoclave
Say it like AW-toh-klayv. Autoclave has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce autoclave. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AW
- toh
- klayv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Autoclave pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- AWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- tohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- klayvGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of autoclave
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: AW-toh-klayv.
What does autoclave mean?
- A strong, pressurized, heated vessel, as for laboratory experiments, sterilization, cooking or mineral processing.
- To sterilize laboratory equipment in an autoclave.
- Synonym of autokey.
Where does autoclave come from?
Borrowed from French autoclave, formed with prefix auto- + Latin clavis (“key”).
Questions about saying autoclave
How do you pronounce autoclave?
Say AW-toh-klayv. The American pronunciation is /ˈɔtoʊˌkleɪv/. In British English it is /ˈɔːtəʊˌkleɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in autoclave?
Autoclave has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AW). Broken into parts: AW · toh · klayv.
Is autoclave pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈɔːtəʊˌkleɪv/ (AW-toh-klayv).