How to Pronounce “hematocrit”

American (US)

/hɪˈmæt.ək.ɹɪt/

British (UK)

/hɪˈmæt.ək.ɹɪt/

noun — The percentage (by volume) of packed red blood cells in a centrifuged sample of blood.

Where the stress falls. “hematocrit” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /hɪˈmæt.ək.ɹɪt/ 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. /hɪˈmæt.ək.ɹɪt/ 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 "hematocrit" mean?

hematocrit (noun): The percentage (by volume) of packed red blood cells in a centrifuged sample of blood.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "hematocrit", /hɪˈmæt.ək.ɹɪt/, 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 "hematocrit"?

/hɪˈmæt.ək.ɹɪt/ in American English, /hɪˈmæt.ək.ɹɪt/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "hematocrit"?

“hematocrit” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /hɪˈmæt.ək.ɹɪt/ 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.