How do you pronounce "characteristic"?

In American English: /ˌkɛrɪktɝˈɪstɪk/ (kehr-ikt-ur-IST-ik). In British English: /kˌæɹɪktəɹˈɪstɪk/ (k-ar-ikt-UHR-ist). In Canadian English: /ˌkɛrɪktɝˈɪstɪk/ (kehr-ikt-ur-IST-ik). In Australian English: /kˌaɹɪktəɹˈɪstɪk/ (k-ar-IKT-uhr).

Is "characteristic" pronounced differently in American and British English?

Yes. In American English it's pronounced /ˌkɛrɪktɝˈɪstɪk/ (kehr-ikt-ur-IST-ik), while in British English it's /kˌæɹɪktəɹˈɪstɪk/ (k-ar-ikt-UHR-ist).

How to Pronounce "characteristic"

🗣️pronounce.how

characteristic

regional

/ˌkɛrɪktɝˈɪstɪk/

kehr-ikt-ur-IST-ik

Syllable Breakdown

kɛrchar·ɪktac·ɝter·ɪstis·ɪktic

Source

90%confidence📘 CMU Pronouncing Dictionary v0.7b

All Variants

Browse by Letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Edit on GitHub Report an issue

Last updated: 2026-02-14