How to pronounce surfactant
Say it like ser-FAK-tunt. Surfactant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FAK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce surfactant. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ser
- FAK
- tunt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Surfactant pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- serKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- FAKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- tuntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of surfactant
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: suh-FAK-tunt.
What does surfactant mean?
- A surface-active agent, or wetting agent, capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid; typically organic compounds having a hydrophilic “head” and a hydrophobic “tail”.
- A lipoprotein in the tissues of the lung that reduces surface tension and permits more efficient gas transport.
Where does surfactant come from?
Blend of surface-active + agent.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying surfactant
How do you pronounce surfactant?
Say ser-FAK-tunt. The American pronunciation is /sɚˈfæktənt/. In British English it is /səˈfæktənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in surfactant?
Surfactant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FAK). Broken into parts: ser · FAK · tunt.
Is surfactant 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 /səˈfæktənt/ (suh-FAK-tunt).