How to Pronounce “mosquito”

American (US)

/məsˈki.toʊ/

British (UK)

/mɒˈskiː.təʊ/

noun — A small flying insect of the family Culicidae, the females of which bite humans and animals and suck blood, leaving an itching bump on the skin, and sometimes carrying diseases like malaria, dengue and yellow fever.

Where the stress falls. “mosquito” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /məsˈki.toʊ/ 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. /məsˈki.toʊ/ 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 "mosquito" mean?

mosquito (noun): A small flying insect of the family Culicidae, the females of which bite humans and animals and suck blood, leaving an itching bump on the skin, and sometimes carrying diseases like malaria, dengue and yellow fever.

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

American English: /məsˈki.toʊ/. British English: /mɒˈskiː.təʊ/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "mosquito"?

/məsˈki.toʊ/ in American English, /mɒˈskiː.təʊ/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "mosquito"?

“mosquito” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /məsˈki.toʊ/ 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.