How to Pronounce “database”

American (US)

/ˈdeɪtəˌbeɪs/

British (UK)

/ˈdeɪtəˌbeɪs/

Australian (AU)

/ˈdeɪtəˌbeɪs/

noun — A collection of (usually) organized information in a regular structure, usually but not necessarily in a machine-readable format accessible by a computer.

Example: I have a database of all my contacts in my personal organizer.

The final e is silent. The transcription /ˈdeɪtəˌbeɪs/ ends on a consonant sound, so the written e at the end of “database” is not pronounced.

Where the stress falls. “database” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈdeɪtəˌbeɪs/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˈdeɪtəˌbeɪs/ 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 "database" mean?

database (noun): A collection of (usually) organized information in a regular structure, usually but not necessarily in a machine-readable format accessible by a computer. For example — I have a database of all my contacts in my personal organizer.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "database", /ˈdeɪtəˌbeɪs/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "database"?

/ˈdeɪtəˌbeɪs/ in American English, /ˈdeɪtəˌbeɪs/ in British English, /ˈdeɪtəˌbeɪs/ in Australian English.

Which syllable is stressed in "database"?

“database” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈdeɪtəˌbeɪs/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.