How to pronounce specter
Say it like SPEK-ter. Specter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SPEK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce specter. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SPEK
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Specter pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SPEKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of specter
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SPEK-tuh.
What does specter mean?
- A ghostly apparition, a phantom.“A specter haunted the cemetery at the old Vasquez manor.”
- A threatening mental image; an unpleasant prospect“The specter of an election-vote recount is this year's political bogeyman.”
- Any of certain species of dragonfly of the genus Boyeria, family Aeshnidae.
Where does specter come from?
From Middle French specter, from Latin spectrum (“appearance, apparition”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with specter
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of specter.
Words that sound like specter
Questions about saying specter
How do you pronounce specter?
Say SPEK-ter. The American pronunciation is /ˈspɛktɚ/. In British English it is /ˈspɛktə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in specter?
Specter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SPEK). Broken into parts: SPEK · ter.
Is specter 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 /ˈspɛktə/ (SPEK-tuh).
What words sound the same as specter?
Specter sounds the same as spectre in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.