How to pronounce characteristic
Say it like ker-uk-tuh-RIS-tik. Characteristic has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (RIS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce characteristic. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ker
- uk
- tuh
- RIS
- tik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Characteristic pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kerGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ukKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RISSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- tikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of characteristic
American and British speakers say characteristic in essentially the same way: /ˌkɛrəktəˈrɪstɪk/ in the US and /ˌkærɪktəˈrɪstɪk/ in the UK.
British respelling: kar-ik-tuh-RIS-tik.
What does characteristic mean?
- a prominent attribute or aspect of something“the map showed roads and other features”“generosity is one of his best characteristics”
- a distinguishing quality
- the integer part (positive or negative) of the representation of a logarithm; in the expression log 643 = 2.808 the characteristic is 2
- typical or distinctive“heard my friend's characteristic laugh”“red and gold are the characteristic colors of autumn”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with characteristic
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of characteristic.
Questions about saying characteristic
How do you pronounce characteristic?
Say ker-uk-tuh-RIS-tik. The American pronunciation is /ˌkɛrəktəˈrɪstɪk/. In British English it is /ˌkærɪktəˈrɪstɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in characteristic?
Characteristic has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (RIS). Broken into parts: ker · uk · tuh · RIS · tik.
Do Americans and Brits say characteristic the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌkɛrəktəˈrɪstɪk/ and the British form is /ˌkærɪktəˈrɪstɪk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.