How to Pronounce Characteristic

To pronounce "characteristic", say CHAR-act-er-ist-ic — 5 syllables, IPA /ˌkæɹəktəˈɹɪstɪk/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

characteristic

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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Syllables

Letters

/ˌkæɹəktəˈɹɪstɪk/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “characteristic”

"characteristic" has 5 syllables: char-act-er-ist-ic. It rhymes with altruistic and narcissistic, if that helps it stick.

What does characteristic mean?

noun

A distinguishing feature of a person or thing.
The integer part of a logarithm.

adjective

Being a distinguishing feature of a person or thing.

Synonyms

attribute hallmark idiosyncrasy mannerism quality tendency trademark trait distinctive exclusive

Antonyms

uncharacteristic untypical

Hear “characteristic” 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 characteristic

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

altruistic narcissistic optimistic antagonistic sadistic heuristic holistic artistic realistic autistic hedonistic opportunistic

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "characteristic"?▾

"Characteristic" has 5 syllables: char · act · er · ist · ic.

What is the IPA transcription of "characteristic"?▾

The IPA transcription of "characteristic" is /ˌkæɹəktəˈɹɪstɪk/.

What does "characteristic" mean?▾

Characteristic: A distinguishing feature of a person or thing.

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