How to Pronounce Thermometer
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Thermometer Pronunciation
ther-MOM-ih-ter
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
ther
MOM
stress here
ih
ter
4 syllables
What is Thermometer?
An instrument that measures body temperature; modern clinical thermometers may be placed under the tongue, in the ear, on the forehead, or in the rectum.
Questions About Thermometer
How do you pronounce 'thermometer'?
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Say it like this: ther-MOM-ih-ter. The stress falls on the second syllable, so you say MOM loudly and clearly. Think of it like saying 'mom' in the middle of the word, and that's where your voice gets a little louder.
What's the most common mistake people make when saying 'thermometer'?
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Many people accidentally stress the first syllable and say THER-mom-ih-ter, but that's incorrect. The correct way puts the emphasis on the second syllable: ther-MOM-ih-ter. Remember: the 'mom' part gets the stress, not the 'ther' part.
How do you break 'thermometer' into syllables?
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The word breaks into four syllables: ther-mom-e-ter. When you say it slowly, each of these four parts gets its own beat, but the second one (mom) is the one you emphasize when speaking at normal speed.
Where does the word 'thermometer' come from?
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It comes from two Greek word parts: 'thermo-' meaning heat, and '-meter' meaning to measure. So thermometer literally means 'heat measurer'—an instrument that measures heat or temperature.
What's a simple, everyday word that means the same thing as 'thermometer'?
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You can just call it a 'temperature reader' or 'temperature taker.' But in medical and everyday settings, 'thermometer' is the standard word that most people understand.
What other medical words use the 'thermo-' root?
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Words like thermography (taking heat pictures), thermostat (controlling heat), and hypothermia (low body heat) all use the same 'thermo-' root meaning heat. Once you know this root, you can recognize it in many other words.
Can you use 'thermometer' in a simple sentence?
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Sure! 'The nurse placed the thermometer under my tongue to check my temperature.' Or: 'I looked at the thermometer to see what the reading was.' The word works as a noun—it's the thing itself, not an action.
Is there a short way to say 'thermometer'?
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In casual conversation, some people just say 'temp' when they mean 'temperature,' but 'thermometer' is the full, correct name for the device. There's no official medical abbreviation for the device itself.