How to pronounce infect
Say it like in-FEKT. Infect has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FEKT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce infect. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- FEKT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Infect pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- inGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- FEKTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of infect
American and British speakers say infect in essentially the same way: /ˌɪnˈfɛkt/ in the US and /ɪnˈfɛkt/ in the UK.
British respelling: in-FEKT.
What does infect mean?
- To bring (the body or part of it) into contact with a substance that causes illness (a pathogen), so that the pathogen begins to act on the body; (of a pathogen) to come into contact with (a body or body part) and begin to act on it.“Not everyone will be infected when an epidemic strikes.”
- To contaminate (an object or substance) with a pathogen.
- To make somebody enthusiastic about one's own passion, or to communicate a feeling to others, or a feeling communicating itself to others.“Her passion for dancing has infected me.”
- Representing an action not yet completed.
Where does infect come from?
From Middle French infect, from Latin infectus, perfect passive participle of inficiō (“dye, taint”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with infect
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of infect.
Questions about saying infect
How do you pronounce infect?
Say in-FEKT. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪnˈfɛkt/. In British English it is /ɪnˈfɛkt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in infect?
Infect has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FEKT). Broken into parts: in · FEKT.
Do Americans and Brits say infect the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪnˈfɛkt/ and the British form is /ɪnˈfɛkt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.