2 syllables: Del, ta. Stress on Del.
DEL-tuh
/ˈdɛltə/
Delta is pronounced DEL-tuh (/ˈdɛltə/). It has two syllables (Del-ta), with the stress on "Del". Delta is a noun meaning a broad, fan-shaped area of fertile land at the mouth of a river, formed from sediment deposits. It can also refer to a shape (the Greek letter Δ) or to a landform created where a river splits and slows as it enters a larger body of water. In science and business, it denotes change or difference, often shown as a difference in measurements.
nounDelta is a noun meaning a broad, fan-shaped area of fertile land at the mouth of a river, formed from sediment deposits. It can also refer to a shape (the Greek letter Δ) or to a landform created where a river splits and slows as it enters a larger body of water. In science and business, it denotes change or difference, often shown as a difference in measurements.
"The Nile Delta is a rich agricultural region."
"Air pressure changed by a delta in temperature caused the instrument readings to drift."
"In the dataset, the delta between the two values was significant."
Delta is pronounced /ˈdɛl.tə/ in US English and /ˈdel.tə/ in UK English. Emphasize the first syllable, with a short, lax E in 'del' and a soft, unstressed 'ta' as /tə/. Mouth positions: start with a relaxed jaw, lips neutral; for /d/ place the tongue at the alveolar ridge, then release into /ɛ/ as in 'bet', followed by /l/ with the tongue tip near the alveolar ridge; finish with a quick /ə/ schwa. Audio references can be found on standard dictionaries and pronunciation platforms.
Common errors include overpronouncing the second syllable as /deɪ/ or elongating /t/ into /tɪ/; pronouncing it as /ˈdɛl.tā/ by forcing a strong /ɑ/ vowel in the final syllable; and mixing up the order of consonants in rapid speech. Correction tips: keep the final syllable as a short /ə/; practice the sequence /d/ + /ɛ/ + /l/ + /tə/ using a quick, clipped /tə/; and use minimal pairs like ‘dell’ vs ‘dell-tuh’ to lock in the proper rhythm. Practicing in short phrases helps solidify the pattern.
In US English, /ˈdɛl.tə/ with a clear /ɛ/ vowel and rhoticity affecting surrounding vowels. UK English tends to be /ˈdel.tə/ with a slightly rolled or relaxed /l/ and less rhotic influence on the /ə/; the first syllable is close to /e/ in many British varieties. Australian English is similar to UK but with a more centralized /ə/ and a slightly broader vowel realization in /ɪ/ or /e/ depending on speaker. All share stress on the first syllable, minimal final consonant release.
Delta presents two subtle challenges: the final unstressed syllable /tə/ tends to reduce aggressively to a schwa, which can blur with surrounding sounds, and the initial /d/ followed by a short /ɛ/ requires a precise, quick transition to avoid a drawn-out /dɛ/ sound. Additionally, many speakers flatten the /ˈdɛl/ into a single syllable or insert an extra vowel. Focus on a quick, clean /tə/ and a crisp /d/ release to keep it natural across accents.
Delta’s vowel quality is inherently short and closed in the first syllable, but the tongue position can subtly shift with speaker dialects. Some speakers may produce a slightly more centralized vowel in the second syllable due to rapid speech or influence from surrounding words. To verify accuracy, practice by isolating the word and then embedding it in short sentences with quick context: “Delta region” or “nDelta function” while maintaining stable /tə/ at the end.
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Delta comes from the Greek letter delta (Δ) in relation to geography, where river deltas were named after the triangular shape of the Greek capital letter Delta. The word’s semantic shift began with the early Greek term delta, describing the divine or symbolic triangular shape. In geography, the term was adopted to describe riverine landforms formed from sediment deposition at the mouth of a river, which creates an area that fans out and splits into multiple distributaries. The earliest uses in English texts often described rivers and their mouths, with
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Delta" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Delta" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Delta" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Delta"
-lta sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
