How to pronounce meridian
Say it like muh-RID-ee-un. Meridian has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RID).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce meridian. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- muh
- RID
- ee
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Meridian pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- muhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RIDSay 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.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of meridian
American and British speakers say meridian in essentially the same way: /məˈrɪdiən/ in the US and /məˈrɪdɪən/ in the UK.
British respelling: muh-RID-ih-un.
What does meridian mean?
- In full celestial meridian: a great circle passing through the poles of the celestial sphere and the zenith for a particular point on the Earth's surface.
- In full terrestrial meridian: a great circle on the Earth's surface, passing through the geographic poles (the terrestrial North Pole and South Pole); also, half of such a circle extending from pole to pole, all points of which have the same longitude.
- The place on the celestial meridian where it is crossed by the sun or a star at its highest point.
- Relating to a meridian (in various senses); meridional.
- Relating to midday or noon.
- To cause an object to reach the meridian or highest point of (something).
- Of a celestial body: to reach its meridian.
Where does meridian come from?
The verb is derived from the noun.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with meridian
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of meridian.
Questions about saying meridian
How do you pronounce meridian?
Say muh-RID-ee-un. The American pronunciation is /məˈrɪdiən/. In British English it is /məˈrɪdɪən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in meridian?
Meridian has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RID). Broken into parts: muh · RID · ee · un.
Do Americans and Brits say meridian the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /məˈrɪdiən/ and the British form is /məˈrɪdɪən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.