How to pronounce tympanum
Say it like TIM-puh-num. Tympanum has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TIM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tympanum. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TIM
- puh
- num
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tympanum pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TIMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- puhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- numKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of tympanum
American and British speakers say tympanum in essentially the same way: /ˈtɪmpənəm/ in the US and /ˈtɪmpənəm/ in the UK.
British respelling: TIM-puh-num.
What does tympanum mean?
- The eardrum (tympanic membrane, membrana tympanica).
- The main portion of the middle ear: the tympanic cavity (cavitas tympani).
- A thin tense membrane covering the hearing organ on the leg or body of some insects, sometimes adapted (as in cicadas) for producing sound.
Where does tympanum come from?
Borrowed from Latin tympanum (“a drum, timbrel, tambourine; the eardrum”).
Questions about saying tympanum
How do you pronounce tympanum?
Say TIM-puh-num. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɪmpənəm/. In British English it is /ˈtɪmpənəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tympanum?
Tympanum has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TIM). Broken into parts: TIM · puh · num.
Do Americans and Brits say tympanum the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtɪmpənəm/ and the British form is /ˈtɪmpənəm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.