How to Pronounce “infinitesimal”

American (US)

/ˌɪnfɪnɪˈtɛsɪməl/

British (UK)

/ˌɪnfɪnɪˈtɛsɪməl/

adjective — Incalculably, exceedingly, or immeasurably minute; vanishingly small.

Example: Do you ever get the feeling that you are but an infinitesimal speck, swallowed by the vastness of the universe and beyond?

Where the stress falls. “infinitesimal” has 6 syllables, and the transcription /ˌɪnfɪnɪˈtɛsɪməl/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the fourth one — so the fourth syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˌɪnfɪnɪˈtɛsɪməl/ 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 "infinitesimal" mean?

infinitesimal (adjective): Incalculably, exceedingly, or immeasurably minute; vanishingly small. For example — Do you ever get the feeling that you are but an infinitesimal speck, swallowed by the vastness of the universe and beyond?

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "infinitesimal", /ˌɪnfɪnɪˈtɛsɪməl/, 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 "infinitesimal"?

/ˌɪnfɪnɪˈtɛsɪməl/ in American English, /ˌɪnfɪnɪˈtɛsɪməl/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "infinitesimal"?

“infinitesimal” has 6 syllables, and the transcription /ˌɪnfɪnɪˈtɛsɪməl/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the fourth one — so the fourth syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.