How to pronounce subtract
Say it like sub-TRAKT. Subtract has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRAKT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce subtract. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- sub
- TRAKT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Subtract pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- subKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TRAKTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of subtract
American and British speakers say subtract in essentially the same way: /səbˈtrækt/ in the US and /səbˈtrækt/ in the UK.
British respelling: sub-TRAKT.
What does subtract mean?
- To remove or reduce; especially to reduce a quantity or number.“If you subtract the $100 for gas from the total cost, it was a fairly inexpensive trip.”
Where does subtract come from?
Borrowed from Latin subtractus, perfect passive participle of subtrahō (“to draw from beneath; withdraw, remove”); from sub (“under”) + trahō (“to draw, pull, drag”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with subtract
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of subtract.
Questions about saying subtract
How do you pronounce subtract?
Say sub-TRAKT. The American pronunciation is /səbˈtrækt/. In British English it is /səbˈtrækt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in subtract?
Subtract has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRAKT). Broken into parts: sub · TRAKT.
Do Americans and Brits say subtract the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /səbˈtrækt/ and the British form is /səbˈtrækt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.