2 syllables: disk, ette. Stress on ette.
dis-KET
/dɪˈskɛt/
diskette is pronounced dis-KET (/dɪˈskɛt/). It has two syllables (disk-ette), with the stress on "ette". Diskette refers to a small, removable magnetic storage device used primarily for data storage in earlier computers. It is pronounced with a short /d/ initial, a clear /ɪ/ vowel, and a soft /sk/ followed by /ɛt/; the final /t/ is released crisply. The term evokes vintage computing contexts and is typically used in historical or technical discussions about floppy disks. Usage today is mostly nostalgic or in archival references.
Diskette refers to a small, removable magnetic storage device used primarily for data storage in earlier computers. It is pronounced with a short /d/ initial, a clear /ɪ/ vowel, and a soft /sk/ followed by /ɛt/; the final /t/ is released crisply. The term evokes vintage computing contexts and is typically used in historical or technical discussions about floppy disks. Usage today is mostly nostalgic or in archival references.
"I found an old diskette in the attic and wondered if the data could still be recovered."
"The museum exhibit showcased a 3.5-inch diskette from the late 1980s."
"We archived the report on a diskette before migrating everything to cloud storage."
Pronounce it as DIS-ket with primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈdɪs.kɛt/ or /ˈdɪs.kɪt/ depending on accent. In US usage you’ll hear /ˈdɪs.kɪt/, with a short, clipped second syllable. In careful speech you can keep /-kɪt/ clearly; many speakers reduce to /-kɪt/ rather than /-kɛt/. Mouth position: start with a rounded lips for the /d/ then quickly snap to a relaxed mouth for /ɪ/, form /s/ with a slight hiss, then close with /k/ and a light /t/ release. Listening for the crisp /t/ at the end helps confirm accuracy.
Common mistakes include saying /ˈdɪs.kɛt/ with an open /ɛ/ for the second syllable, or turning the final /t/ into a stop with more aspiration, like /ˈdɪs.kɜːt/. The second syllable is typically a short vowel; avoid elongating it. Also some speakers flatten the /s/ or misplace the /d/ by coalescing to /dɪs.kɪt/ with an unnecessary schwa. Focus on a crisp /k/ followed by a clean /t/ without extra vowel between them.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˈdɪs.kɪt/ with a short /ɪ/ second syllable and a clear /t/. UK English often presents /ˈdɪs.ket/ or /ˈdɪs.kɪt/ with less vowel lengthening and a crisper /t/; the /e/ in the second syllable may approach /ɜː/ in some GA speech. Australian English tends toward /ˈdɪs.ket/ with strong final /t/ and little vowel reduction. Across accents, the main variation is the second syllable vowel quality and the degree of final consonant release.
Because the second syllable centers on a short, clipped vowel in a closed syllable, and the final vowel-consonant cluster requires precise timing to avoid an extra vowel or a softened release. The /sk/ sequence also demands careful tongue positioning to avoid a blended or mispronounced /zk/; many speakers coarticulate, producing /skt/ or an assimilated /sd/ sound. Practicing with minimal pairs helps lock the /ɪ/ versus /ɛ/ distinction and final /t/ release.
The word uniquely combines a clean, unstressed /ɪ/ in the middle with a crisp /t/ at the end after the /k/ plosive, which can be challenging when followed by a pause or in rapid speech. Emphasize the boundary between /s/ and /k/ so it doesn’t blur into a /sk/ cluster that becomes /skt/ or /skɪt/ in quick speech. The primary challenge is maintaining a distinct /ɪ/ in the second syllable while producing a precise /t/ release.
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Diskette derives from the word disk, referencing a circular storage surface, with the diminutive suffix -ette indicating a smaller or younger version. The concept emerged from early magnetic storage technologies; the first floppy disks were 8 inches in diameter, and the term “diskette” became common in the 1970s and 1980s as smaller, portable magnetic storage media were introduced. The 3.5-inch diskette popularized the term in consumer and professional computing. The name entered mainstream lexicon as computers proliferated in offices and homes, offering removable storage for software and data. Its use waned with CD-ROMs, USB flash drives, and cloud storage, but the word remains in historical references, documentation, and trivia about early computing hardware. First known use appears in technical manuals and vendor catalogs from the late 1970s to early 1980s, with everyday adoption accelerating through the 1980s as personal computers became ubiquitous. The etymology reflects a general pattern in tech naming: combining a root word with a diminutive suffix to denote a smaller or more constrained version of a familiar device. The shift from “disk” to “diskette” also mirrors the transition from larger, less portable media to compact, user-friendly peripherals that defined the era’s user experience.
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Words that rhyme with "diskette"
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# Master Guide for diskette
