How to Pronounce “datum”

American (US)

/ˈdeɪtəm/

British (UK)

/ˈdeɪtəm/

noun — Something known or assumed as fact, and is made the basis of reasoning or inference which an intellectual system of any sort (such as knowledge or theoretical framework) is constructed.

Example: a datum of experience.

Where the stress falls. “datum” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈdeɪtəm/ 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. /ˈdeɪtəm/ 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 "datum" mean?

datum (noun): Something known or assumed as fact, and is made the basis of reasoning or inference which an intellectual system of any sort (such as knowledge or theoretical framework) is constructed. For example — a datum of experience.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "datum", /ˈdeɪtəm/, 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 "datum"?

/ˈdeɪtəm/ in American English, /ˈdeɪtəm/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "datum"?

“datum” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈdeɪtəm/ 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.