How to pronounce meteor
Say it like MEE-tee-er. Meteor has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce meteor. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MEE
- tee
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Meteor pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of meteor
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: MEE-tih-uh.
What does meteor mean?
- (astronomy) any of the small solid extraterrestrial bodies that hits the earth's atmosphere
- a streak of light in the sky at night that results when a meteoroid hits the earth's atmosphere and air friction causes the meteoroid to melt or vaporize or explode
Where does meteor come from?
The original sense of “atmospheric phenomenon” gave rise to meteorology, but the meaning of "meteor" is now restricted to extraterrestrial objects burning up as they enter the atmosphere.
Questions about saying meteor
How do you pronounce meteor?
Say MEE-tee-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈmitiɚ/. In British English it is /ˈmiːtɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in meteor?
Meteor has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEE). Broken into parts: MEE · tee · er.
Is meteor 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 /ˈmiːtɪə/ (MEE-tih-uh).