How to pronounce foraminifer
Say it like for-uh-MIN-uh-fer. Foraminifer has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (MIN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce foraminifer. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- for
- uh
- MIN
- uh
- fer
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Foraminifer pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- forGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- MINSay 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.
- ferKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of foraminifer
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: for-uh-MIN-ih-fuh.
What does foraminifer mean?
- Any of a large group of aquatic amoeboid protists of the subphylum Foraminifera, characterized by streaming granular ectoplasm that among other things is used for catching food, often with a calcareous shell with many holes through which pseudopodia protrude.
Where does foraminifer come from?
Borrowed from French foraminifère (“foraminifer, foraminifera”), from French Foraminifères, coined by the French naturalist Alcide d’Orbigny (1802–1857) in an 1826 article.
Questions about saying foraminifer
How do you pronounce foraminifer?
Say for-uh-MIN-uh-fer. The American pronunciation is /ˌfɔrəˈmɪnəfɚ/. In British English it is /ˌfɒrəˈmɪnɪfə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in foraminifer?
Foraminifer has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (MIN). Broken into parts: for · uh · MIN · uh · fer.
Is foraminifer pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌfɒrəˈmɪnɪfə/ (for-uh-MIN-ih-fuh).