How to pronounce diatom
Say it like DY-uh-tawm. Diatom has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce diatom. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DY
- uh
- tawm
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Diatom pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- tawmGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of diatom
American and British speakers say diatom in essentially the same way: /ˈdaɪəˌtɔm/ in the US and /ˈdaɪətəm/ in the UK.
British respelling: DY-uh-tum.
What does diatom mean?
- Any of a group of minute unicellular algae having a siliceous covering of great delicacy, now categorized as class Diatomophyceae or division Bacillariophyta.
- A molecule composed of two atoms of the same element; a homonuclear diatomic molecule.
Questions about saying diatom
How do you pronounce diatom?
Say DY-uh-tawm. The American pronunciation is /ˈdaɪəˌtɔm/. In British English it is /ˈdaɪətəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in diatom?
Diatom has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DY). Broken into parts: DY · uh · tawm.
Do Americans and Brits say diatom the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdaɪəˌtɔm/ and the British form is /ˈdaɪətəm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.