How to Pronounce “coterminous”

American (US)

/kəˈtɝ.mɪ.nəs/

British (UK)

/kəˈtəː.mɪ.nəs/

adjective — Having matching boundaries; or, adjoining and sharing a boundary.

Example: New York's borough of Brooklyn and Kings County are coterminous.

Where the stress falls. “coterminous” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /kəˈtɝ.mɪ.nəs/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /kəˈtɝ.mɪ.nəs/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "coterminous" mean?

coterminous (adjective): Having matching boundaries; or, adjoining and sharing a boundary. For example — New York's borough of Brooklyn and Kings County are coterminous.

How do you pronounce "coterminous" in American vs British English?

American English: /kəˈtɝ.mɪ.nəs/. British English: /kəˈtəː.mɪ.nəs/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "coterminous"?

/kəˈtɝ.mɪ.nəs/ in American English, /kəˈtəː.mɪ.nəs/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "coterminous"?

“coterminous” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /kəˈtɝ.mɪ.nəs/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.