How to pronounce bacterial
Say it like bak-TIR-ee-ul. Bacterial has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TIR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bacterial. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- bak
- TIR
- ee
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bacterial pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- bakKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- TIRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of bacterial
- American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3.
British respelling: bak-TEER-reerl.
What does bacterial mean?
- relating to or caused by bacteria“bacterial infection”
Where does bacterial come from?
From bacteria + -al.
Words that rhyme with bacterial
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bacterial.
Questions about saying bacterial
How do you pronounce bacterial?
Say bak-TIR-ee-ul. The American pronunciation is /bækˈtɪriəl/. In British English it is /bækˈtɪərɪəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bacterial?
Bacterial has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TIR). Broken into parts: bak · TIR · ee · ul.
Is bacterial pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3. The British form is /bækˈtɪərɪəl/ (bak-TEER-reerl).