3 syllables: Chi, mae, ra. Stress on mae.
keye-MIR-uh
/kaɪˈmɪɹə/
Chimaera is pronounced keye-MIR-uh (/kaɪˈmɪɹə/). It has three syllables (Chi-mae-ra), with the stress on "mae". Chimaera (also chimera) is a noun referring to a mythical fire-breathing creature with a lion’s head, a goat’s body, and a serpent tail, or more broadly a thing composed of disparate parts. It also denotes a fanciful or imaginative idea, often one that is wildly unrealistic. The term can be used metaphorically to describe something imagined or dreamt rather than real.
nounChimaera (also chimera) is a noun referring to a mythical fire-breathing creature with a lion’s head, a goat’s body, and a serpent tail, or more broadly a thing composed of disparate parts. It also denotes a fanciful or imaginative idea, often one that is wildly unrealistic. The term can be used metaphorically to describe something imagined or dreamt rather than real.
How to Pronounce Chimaera
"The artist’s sculpture invokes a modern chimera, blending animal forms in a single figure."
"Some scientists warn that the proposal is a chimera of fact and speculation."
"In mythology, the Chimera terrorized the countryside until the hero slayed it."
Pronounce it as /ˌkaɪˈmɪə.rə/ (US/UK) with three syllables: kai-mee-uh-rah. The stress is on the second syllable: chi-ME-rah. The first syllable sounds like ‘kai’ as in ‘kite,’ the second is a schwa- or a short /ɪə/ sequence, and the final ‘a’ is a light /ə/ or /ə/. In American, UK, and AU accents, the pattern remains, but vowel qualities shift slightly; keep the rhythm even and avoid turning the ‘m’ into a nasal blend.
Common errors: (1) Stressing the first syllable chi- instead of chi-ME-ra; (2) Pronouncing the middle vowel as a pure /i/ instead of a diphthong /ɪə/ or /iə/; (3) Slurring endings so it sounds like ‘chimera’ as one syllable. Correction: emphasize the second syllable with a clear /ˈmɪə/ or /ˈɪə/ and end with a light /rə/ rather than a heavy /rɑː/. Practice with minimal pairs kai/cry to ensure the -ai- vs -me- emphasis is accurate.
US: /ˌkaɪˈmɪəɹə/ with rhotic /ɹ/. UK: /ˌkaɪˈmɪə.rə/ non-rhotic? often slightly less rhotic; AU: /ˌkaɪˈmiː.ɹə/ with a slightly prolonged /iː/ in some speakers. The central vowel in -mɪə- tends toward a near-diphthong in US and AU, while UK can exhibit a shorter /ɪə/ sequence. Overall rhythm remains three syllables, stress on the second, but vowel quality and rhoticity vary.
Difficult due to the diphthong in the middle and the trailing unstressed syllable. The sequence /ɪə/ or /iə/ is subtle and easy to misrender as a pure /ɪ/ or /ə/. The final unstressed /rə/ can be swallowed if you rush. Practice by isolating each part: kai, -mɪə-, -rə, then blend with slow, then normal speed.
Chimaera combines a distinct initial /kaɪ/ with a mid-front diphthong /ɪə/ or /iə/ and a soft, schwa-like final /rə/. The shift of diphthong quality across accents and the steady triple-stress pattern in many dictionaries make it a standout; it’s a non-native-friendly blend that rewards deliberate articulation and rhythm.
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Chimaera comes from Latin chimera, from Greek Khimaira (Χίμαιρα), a composite creature from Miara meaning “jaw, muzzle” and a root related to bringing together disparate parts. In ancient Greek, Khimaira referred to a fabulous monster with a lion head, goat body, and serpent tail. The term entered English via Latinized forms in medieval bestiaries and medical/philosophical texts, often used metaphorically for any grotesque mixture or fantastical fabrication. By the 16th–17th centuries, chimera broadened to describe imaginative constructs, including illusions or hybrid ideas in scientific or literary contexts. In modern usage, the word frequently denotes something wildly imaginative or fanciful, or a genetic anomaly in biology, while preserving its mythic associations. The spelling chimaera aligns with British and Commonwealth conventions, whereas chimera is common in American usage; both derive from the same Greek root. First known uses appear in ancient translations andLatinized Greek texts, with English attestations appearing in the early modern period as scholars engaged with classical myth and taxonomy. Over time, the term has retained its sense of hybridization—of parts that do not naturally belong together—whether describing myth, science, or speculative fiction.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Chimaera" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Chimaera"
-era sounds
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