How to pronounce dilithium
Say it like dy-LITH-ee-um. Dilithium has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LITH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dilithium. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dy
- LITH
- ee
- um
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dilithium pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- dyGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- LITHSay 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.
- umKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of dilithium
American and British speakers say dilithium in essentially the same way: /ˌdaɪˈlɪθiəm/ in the US and /ˌdaɪˈlɪθiəm/ in the UK.
British respelling: dy-LITH-ee-um.
What does dilithium mean?
- The diatomic molecule Li₂ found in the gas phase.
- Two lithium atoms in a molecule.
- A fictional crystalline mineral in the Star Trek franchise, described as an essential component of anti-matter energy generation systems.
Where does dilithium come from?
From di- + lithium.
Questions about saying dilithium
How do you pronounce dilithium?
Say dy-LITH-ee-um. The American pronunciation is /ˌdaɪˈlɪθiəm/. In British English it is /ˌdaɪˈlɪθiəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dilithium?
Dilithium has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LITH). Broken into parts: dy · LITH · ee · um.
Do Americans and Brits say dilithium the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌdaɪˈlɪθiəm/ and the British form is /ˌdaɪˈlɪθiəm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.