Pronunciation Guide • English (from Latin)
How to Pronounce deteriorate
Difficulty: hard
IPA Transcription
/dɪˈtɪəriəreɪt/
Why is it so hard to pronounce?
dih-TEER-ee-uh-rate. Five syllables. Often incorrectly said as "de-TEER-ee-ate" (dropping a syllable). The "-ior-" sequence requires an extra syllable: TEER + ee + uh + rate.
💡 Pro Tip for deteriorate
dih-TEER-ee-uh-rate. Five syllables. Don't drop the "ee-uh" in the middle.
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The term deteriorate originates from Latin "deteriorare". Understanding its etymology helps explain why it breaks standard pronunciation rules.