How to pronounce iota
Say it like eye-OH-tuh. Iota has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (OH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce iota. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- eye
- OH
- tuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Iota pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- eyeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- OHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of iota
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: eye-OH-tuh.
What does iota mean?
- The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet (Ι, ι).“As a Greek numeral, iota represents ten.”
- The Latin letter Ɩ (minuscule: ɩ).
- A jot; a very small, insignificant quantity.
Where does iota come from?
Sense “jot, small quantity” in reference to a phrase in the New Testament: ”one iote or one title, shall in no wise passe from the law”, iota being the smallest letter of the Greek alphabet.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with iota
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of iota.
Questions about saying iota
How do you pronounce iota?
Say eye-OH-tuh. The American pronunciation is /aɪˈoʊtə/. In British English it is /aɪˈəʊtə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in iota?
Iota has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (OH). Broken into parts: eye · OH · tuh.
Is iota pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /aɪˈəʊtə/ (eye-OH-tuh).