How to pronounce chimera
Say it like ky-MIR-uh. Chimera has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MIR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce chimera. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ky
- MIR
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Chimera pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kyKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- MIRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of chimera
American and British speakers say chimera in essentially the same way: /kaɪˈmɪrə/ in the US and /kaɪˈmɪərə/ in the UK.
British respelling: ky-MEER-ruh.
What does chimera mean?
- Alternative letter-case form of Chimera, a supposed monster in Lycia with the head of a lion, body of a goat, and tail of a dragon or serpent, killed by the hero Bellerophon.“The game includes a bunch of chimeras, with the lion heads shooting fire and the snake tails whipping around trying to bite the player.”
- Any fantastic creature combining parts from different animals.
- A foolish, incongruous, or vain thought or product of the imagination.
Words that rhyme with chimera
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of chimera.
Questions about saying chimera
How do you pronounce chimera?
Say ky-MIR-uh. The American pronunciation is /kaɪˈmɪrə/. In British English it is /kaɪˈmɪərə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in chimera?
Chimera has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MIR). Broken into parts: ky · MIR · uh.
Do Americans and Brits say chimera the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kaɪˈmɪrə/ and the British form is /kaɪˈmɪərə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.