How to pronounce ratite
Say it like RAT-eyet. Ratite has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RAT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ratite. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RAT
- eyet
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ratite pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RATSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- eyetKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of ratite
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: RAT-eyet.
What does ratite mean?
- Pertaining to running, flightless birds with no keels on their sternums (as opposed to carinate).
- A member of a diverse group of mostly large, running, flightless birds that lack keels on their sternums, mostly extinct such as the elephant bird and the moa, but including the extant cassowaries, emu, kiwi, ostrich, and rhea; formerly grouped together in the order Struthioniformes, and including t
Where does ratite come from?
From Latin ratis (“raft”) + -ite; ratites (unlike other birds) lack a keel on their sternum, and rafts are vessels that lack keels.
Questions about saying ratite
How do you pronounce ratite?
Say RAT-eyet. The American pronunciation is /ˈrætaɪt/. In British English it is /ˈrætaɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ratite?
Ratite has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RAT). Broken into parts: RAT · eyet.
Is ratite pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈrætaɪt/ (RAT-eyet).