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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Word Origins

The term deteriorate originates from Latin "deteriorare". Understanding its etymology helps explain why it breaks standard pronunciation rules.