How to pronounce disinfectant
Say it like dih-sin-FEK-tunt. Disinfectant has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (FEK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce disinfectant. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- sin
- FEK
- tunt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Disinfectant pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- dihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- sinKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- FEKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tuntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of disinfectant
American and British speakers say disinfectant in essentially the same way: /dɪsɪnˈfɛktənt/ in the US and /dɪsɪnˈfɛktənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-sin-FEK-tunt.
What does disinfectant mean?
- A substance that kills germs or viruses.“The scalpels were soaked in disinfectant before the operation so disease wouldn't be spread.”
- Serving to kill germs or viruses.“I washed repeatedly with a disinfectant soap but I still caught the flu.”
Where does disinfectant come from?
From disinfect + -ant, borrowed from French désinfectant.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with disinfectant
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of disinfectant.
Questions about saying disinfectant
How do you pronounce disinfectant?
Say dih-sin-FEK-tunt. The American pronunciation is /dɪsɪnˈfɛktənt/. In British English it is /dɪsɪnˈfɛktənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in disinfectant?
Disinfectant has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (FEK). Broken into parts: dih · sin · FEK · tunt.
Do Americans and Brits say disinfectant the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪsɪnˈfɛktənt/ and the British form is /dɪsɪnˈfɛktənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.