How to pronounce “criteria”
Criteria is pronounced /kraɪˈtɪriːə/. It has 4 syllables, and the beat falls on the second one — tɪ. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 4 beats. The highlighted syllable is the strong one: say it louder, longer and a touch higher in pitch, and let the others fall away. English is a stress-timed language, so getting tɪ in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern oOoo — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
The common mispronunciation of “criteria”
✗ Often said: /ˈkrɪtərɪæ/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /kraɪˈtɪriːə/
Why the two come apart: the stress lands on the second syllable (“tɪ”), not on the first one — putting the beat at the front is the mistake almost everyone makes; also, at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here; also, a consonant letter takes an unexpected sound value here, so reading it "as written" comes out wrong.
This is why reading English aloud from spelling alone goes wrong so often: the letters of “criteria” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“criteria” sound by sound
“criteria” is built out of 8 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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kRaise the back of the tongue to touch the soft palate, seal the air, then release it with a puff.
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rCurl the tongue tip back (or bunch the tongue body up) without touching anything, round the lips slightly, and voice — the tongue must never tap the roof of the mouth.
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aɪStart with the mouth open at an /a/-like position and glide up toward /ɪ/, closing the jaw as you go.
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tTouch the tongue tip to the bumpy ridge just behind the upper teeth, block the air, then release it with a puff.
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ɪRelax the tongue slightly lower and further back than for /iː/, keep the lips neutral, and make it short and lax.
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rCurl the tongue tip back (or bunch the tongue body up) without touching anything, round the lips slightly, and voice — the tongue must never tap the roof of the mouth.
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iːSpread the lips into a smile, push the front of the tongue high and forward, and hold the sound tense and long.
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əDo almost nothing: leave the tongue in its neutral resting position, mouth slightly open, and make the shortest, weakest possible vowel.
Words that rhyme with “criteria”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Questions people ask about “criteria”
- How do you pronounce “criteria”?
- “criteria” is pronounced /kraɪˈtɪriːə/, with the stress on the second syllable (tɪ). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “criteria”?
- “criteria” has 4 syllables: kraɪ · tɪ · riː · ə. The stress pattern is oOoo.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “criteria”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈkrɪtərɪæ/, but it is actually /kraɪˈtɪriːə/, because the stress lands on the second syllable (“tɪ”), not on the first one — putting the beat at the front is the mistake almost everyone makes.
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