How to pronounce vector
Say it like VEK-ter. Vector has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VEK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce vector. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- VEK
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Vector pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- VEKSay 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 vector
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: VEK-tuh.
What does vector mean?
- a variable quantity that can be resolved into components
- a straight line segment whose length is magnitude and whose orientation in space is direction
- any agent (person or animal or microorganism) that carries and transmits a disease“mosquitos are vectors of malaria and yellow fever”“fleas are vectors of the plague”
Where does vector come from?
The mathematics sense was coined by Irish mathematician and astronomer William Rowan Hamilton in 1846.
Words that rhyme with vector
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of vector.
Questions about saying vector
How do you pronounce vector?
Say VEK-ter. The American pronunciation is /ˈvɛktɚ/. In British English it is /ˈvɛktə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in vector?
Vector has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VEK). Broken into parts: VEK · ter.
Is vector 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 /ˈvɛktə/ (VEK-tuh).