How to pronounce metric
Say it like MET-rik. Metric has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MET).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce metric. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MET
- rik
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Metric pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- METSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- rikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of metric
American and British speakers say metric in essentially the same way: /ˈmɛtrɪk/ in the US and /ˈmɛtrɪk/ in the UK.
British respelling: MET-rik.
What does metric mean?
- a function of a topological space that gives, for any two points in the space, a value equal to the distance between them
- a decimal unit of measurement of the metric system (based on meters and kilograms and seconds)“convert all the measurements to metric units”“it is easier to work in metric”
- a system of related measures that facilitates the quantification of some particular characteristic
- based on the meter as a standard of measurement“the metric system”“metrical equivalents”
- the rhythmic arrangement of syllables
Where does metric come from?
From French métrique (1864), from New Latin metricus (“pertaining to the system based on the meter”), from metrum (“a meter”); see meter.
Words that rhyme with metric
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of metric.
Questions about saying metric
How do you pronounce metric?
Say MET-rik. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɛtrɪk/. In British English it is /ˈmɛtrɪk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in metric?
Metric has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MET). Broken into parts: MET · rik.
Do Americans and Brits say metric the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmɛtrɪk/ and the British form is /ˈmɛtrɪk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.