3 syllables: Ex, cre, ta. Stress on Ex.
EK-skree-tuh
/ˈɛkˌskriːtə/
Excreta is pronounced EK-skree-tuh (/ˈɛkˌskriːtə/). It has three syllables (Ex-cre-ta), with the stress on "Ex". Excreta is the plural of excrement: matter discharged from the bowels. Used in medical or scientific contexts to refer to feces collectively. The term is formal and often encountered in anatomy, zoology, or veterinary writing rather than everyday speech.
nounExcreta is the plural of excrement: matter discharged from the bowels. Used in medical or scientific contexts to refer to feces collectively. The term is formal and often encountered in anatomy, zoology, or veterinary writing rather than everyday speech.
"The lab analyzed the excreta samples for bacterial contamination."
"Excreta from the wild birds indicated their diet."
"A seal of the sample container noted the presence of excreta."
Pronounce it as ek-SKREE-tuh or ek-SKRE-tuh, with primary stress on the second syllable in most varieties. IPA US: /ˈɛkˌskriːtə/; UK: /ˈɛkˌskrɛtə/; AU: /ˈɛkˌskrɪtə/. Start with a clear 'ek' syllable, then a strong 'skree' or 'skreh' depending on accent, finishing with a light 'tuh'. If you’re unsure, think of the root excrete; the second syllable carries the main emphasis.
Common mistakes include collapsing the second and third syllables into one (ek-SREE-tuh) or misplacing the stress on the first syllable (EK-skre-tuh). Another frequent error is pronouncing the middle 'cr' cluster too softly or too forcefully, affecting clarity of /skr/. Correct by clearly articulating /skr/ as a consonant cluster, and place primary stress on the second syllable: ek-SKREE-tuh /ˈɛkˌskriːtə/.
In US English, the sequence is often /ˈɛkˌskriːtə/ with a slightly longer /iː/ in the second syllable. UK English tends to a shorter /ɛ/ and a crisper /t/ at the end, /ˈɛkˌskrɛtə/. Australian tends to place strong, clipped first syllable and a reduced final syllable, /ˈɛkˌskriːtə/ or /ˈɛkˌskrɪtə/ depending on speaker. Across all, the second syllable carries the secondary stress; rhoticity is usually non-rhotic in UK/AU, rhotic in US to varying degrees.
The difficulty comes from the consonant cluster /skr/ and the transition between /k/ and /s/ in the adjacent syllables, plus managing the two-syllable rhythm with the secondary stress in the middle. The final -ta can sound like /tə/ or /tæ/ depending on accent. Practice with slow, deliberate articulation of /ɛk/ + /skr/ + /iː/ + /tə/ to stabilize the sequence.
A useful focal point is the strong medial cluster /skr/ that links the first and second syllables. Maintain a clean /skr/ without vowel intrusion, and ensure the primary stress remains on the second syllable. In careful speech, the /riː/ in the second syllable should be clearly enunciated to avoid blending with the following /tə/.
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Excreta comes from the Latin word excretus, past participle of excernere meaning to separate, separate out, or discard. Excretus itself is composed of ex- (out) + cernere (to sift, discern, separate). The noun excreta developed in English by analogy with excrement, used in medical and scientific writing to refer to materials discharged from the body. First appearing in English medical texts around the 18th or 19th century as scholars formalized anatomical terminology, excreta was used to designate bodily discharges collectively rather than a single instance of feces. The plural form aligns with other body-discharge terms like excreta (plural) versus excrement (singular/plural usage depending on context). Over time, excreta has retained a formal, clinical tone and is now common in pathology, zoology, and veterinary literature, though it remains rarely used in casual conversation due to its clinical feel.
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Words that rhyme with "Excreta"
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