How to Pronounce Bacteria

To pronounce "bacteria", say BACT-er-ia — 3 syllables, IPA /bækˈtɪɹiə/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

bacteria

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Accent

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Speed

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3

Syllables

8

Letters

/bækˈtɪɹiə/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/bæktˈiəɹɪɐ/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “bacteria”

"bacteria" has 3 syllables: bact-er-ia. It rhymes with criteria and cafeteria, if that helps it stick.

What does bacteria mean?

noun

  1. A type, species, or strain of bacterium.
  2. A derisive term for a lowlife or a slob (could be treated as plural or singular).

noun

  1. A single celled organism with cell walls but no nucleus or organelles.

Hear “bacteria” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with bacteria

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

criteriacafeteriaspireadiphtherialisteriaspiraeamyria-algeriaassyria

Related words

microbebacterialbacteriologicallisteriosisblightorganismgermbug

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "bacteria"?▾

"Bacteria" has 3 syllables: bact · er · ia.

What is the IPA transcription of "bacteria"?▾

The IPA transcription of "bacteria" is /bækˈtɪɹiə/.

What does "bacteria" mean?▾

Bacteria: A type, species, or strain of bacterium.

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