2 syllables: Da, ta. Stress on Da.
DAY-tuh
/ˈdeɪtə/
Data is pronounced DAY-tuh (/ˈdeɪtə/). It has two syllables (Da-ta), with the stress on "Da". Data is a plural noun referring to factual information collected for analysis, reference, or decision-making; in common usage, it often functions as a mass noun meaning information in general. The term spans formal and everyday contexts, from scientific datasets to trading data, and its pronunciation and plural behavior can vary by region and register.
nounData is a plural noun referring to factual information collected for analysis, reference, or decision-making; in common usage, it often functions as a mass noun meaning information in general. The term spans formal and everyday contexts, from scientific datasets to trading data, and its pronunciation and plural behavior can vary by region and register.
How to Pronounce Data
"The data show a clear trend over the last decade."
"Researchers analyzed the data before drawing conclusions."
"We need to secure the data before sharing it with partners."
Typically pronounced /ˈdeɪtə/ in US casual speech, with stress on the first syllable and a reduced second syllable. In more formal or technical contexts, /ˈdætə/ (DAT-uh) is common, especially in British and some academic circles. To decide which, consider your audience: /ˈdeɪtə/ aligns with everyday data talk; /ˈdætə/ aligns with traditional scholarly tone. Remember the two-syllable pattern: DAY-tuh or DAT-uh, with a short, relaxed /ə/ in the second syllable.
Common errors include t-voicing and vowel quality: (1) pronouncing it as /ˈdeɪtə/ with an extra syllable or lingering /r/ sound, which isn’t standard; (2) using a long /u/ or /i/ in the first syllable (e.g., /ˈdiː.ə.ta/), which is inaccurate for both US and UK variants. Correction: keep the first syllable as a tense, clipped /eɪ/ or /æ/ depending on variant, then quickly reduce the second syllable to /tə/ or /tə/. Practice minimal pairs: day-tuh vs dat-tuh.
In US English, data is often /ˈdeɪtə/ with DAY-tuh, reflecting broader American vowel tendencies. In UK English, /ˈdætə/ is common, sounding more like DAT-uh, with a shorter first vowel and more clipped second syllable. Australian English tends to fall between US and UK: /ˈdæ.tə/ or /ˈdeɪ.tə/, with some speakers favoring the /æ/ in the first syllable. The main variation is vowel quality and the exact placement of stress, though all forms preserve two syllables.
The challenge lies in the variable vowel in the first syllable (/eɪ/ vs /æ/) and the choice of second-syllable vocalism (/tə/ with schwa). Speakers must decide based on context and audience; formal settings often favor /ˈdætə/ in older traditions, while modern usage leans toward /ˈdeɪtə/ in everyday talk. Mastery requires controlling vowel length, reducing the second syllable, and maintaining a clear, two-syllable rhythm at comfortable speech pace.
Some contexts use 'data' with singular agreement in modern prose, while others prefer plural agreement. For pronunciation, this doesn't change the two-syllable structure, but awareness of audience matters: in engineering teams or scientific papers, you might hear /ˈdeɪtə/ more; in traditional academic writing, /ˈdætə/ is still heard. Regardless of quantity agreement, the phonetic form tends to stay stable: two syllables with a crisp initial vowel and a reduced second syllable.
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Data comes from the plural of Latin datum, meaning 'something given' or 'a piece of information.' The Latin datum, from dāre 'to give,' entered English through scientific usage in the 17th–18th centuries as data, used both as a plural with matching verbs (the data are) and later as a mass noun in common speech (data is). The shift toward treating data as a collective mass noun in American and British usage grew in the late 20th century with the rise of data-driven disciplines. Today, 'data' is widely used to refer to information in general, as well as to specific datasets in science, technology, or business contexts, while its plural form remains a touchstone of formal usage in some contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Data" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Data"
-eta sounds
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