How to pronounce detritus
Say it like DET-ruh-tus. Detritus has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DET).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce detritus. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DET
- ruh
- tus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Detritus pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DETSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- tusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of detritus
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: DET-ruh-tus.
Other ways to say detritus
Detritus also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- dih-TRY-tus /dɪˈtraɪtəs/
What does detritus mean?
- Pieces of rock broken off by ice, glacier, or erosion.
- Organic waste material from decomposing dead plants or animals.
- Any debris or fragments of disintegrated material.
Where does detritus come from?
Learned borrowing from Latin dētrītus (“(that which is) rubbed away”), from dēterō (“rub away”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying detritus
How do you pronounce detritus?
Say DET-ruh-tus. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɛtrətəs/. In British English it is /ˈdɛtrətəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in detritus?
Detritus has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DET). Broken into parts: DET · ruh · tus.
Is detritus pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈdɛtrətəs/ (DET-ruh-tus).