4 syllables: Mul, ti, me, ter. Stress on Mul.
MUHL-tee-mee-tur
/ˈmʌltiˌmiːtɚ/
Multimeter is pronounced MUHL-tee-mee-tur (/ˈmʌltiˌmiːtɚ/). It has four syllables (Mul-ti-me-ter), with the stress on "Mul". Multimeter is a handheld electronic instrument used to measure electrical properties such as voltage, current, and resistance. It combines several measurement functions into one device, often with a digital display. In common use, it helps technicians diagnose circuits, test components, and verify electrical correctness across electronics projects and maintenance work.
nounMultimeter is a handheld electronic instrument used to measure electrical properties such as voltage, current, and resistance. It combines several measurement functions into one device, often with a digital display. In common use, it helps technicians diagnose circuits, test components, and verify electrical correctness across electronics projects and maintenance work.
- Phoneme challenges: /ˈmʌl/ initial with short, lax vowel, /ˈtɪ/ or /ti/ in the second syllable; avoid turning /ti/ into /tiː. /-mɪ/ vs /-miː/ show difference; - Final syllable: keep /tər/ or /tə/ instead of a silent or altered ending; - Stress pattern: ensure the main stress isn't mistakenly placed on TI or TI-ME.
"You should check the battery voltage with a multimeter before you start the repair."
"The technician connected the multimeter in parallel to measure the circuit’s resistance."
"She to use the multimeter’s continuity setting to see if the wire is intact."
US/UK/AU pronunciation follows the syllable pattern Mul-ti-me-ter with primary stress on the third syllable TI in many speakers: /ˈmʌl.tiˌmiː.tər/ (UK) or /ˈmʌl.tɪˌmiːˌtɚ/ (US). Break it into four phonemes: /ˈmʌl/ + /tɪ/ or /tiː/ + /ˈmiː/ + /tər/. Start with a short ‘u’ in ‘mul,’ then a crisp ‘ti’ or ‘ti-’ as in ‘tih,’ followed by a long ‘mee’ and a light ‘ter.’ Mouth positions: lips neutral, jaw slightly dropped, tongue high for the final 'ter' consonant. Audio reference: imagine saying “mul-tee-mee-ter” with a clear middle emphasis. IPA specifics: US /ˈməl.tɪˌmiˈtɜɹ/; UK /ˈmʊl.tiː.mɪ.tə/ depending on dialect; AU /ˈmʌl.tiː.mɪ.tə/.
Common errors: flattening the middle syllable (mul-TEA-me-ter) and misplacing stress on the second syllable. Another mistake is pronouncing the final ‘ter’ as ‘tar,’ dropping the schwa or reducing the last syllable. Correction: keep the sequence mul- ti- me-ter with stress on TI in many American speech patterns and pronounce the final syllable as -ter with a clear schwa or rhotacized vowel depending on accent. Practice with minimal pairs like mul-TEA vs mul-TA to feel the difference.
In US English the word tends toward four syllables with a strong middle stress: /ˈməl.tɪˌmiˌtɚ/. UK English may show a slightly longer middle vowel and less rhotacization in the final syllable: /ˈmʌl.tiː.mɪ.tə/. Australian English often aligns with UK, though final vowels may be more centralized and the first syllable vowel may be a schwa-like /ə/ in fast speech. Across all, the core sequences mul- and -ter are stable; the key variation lies in vowel length and rhoticity. IPA references: US /ˈmɔːl/ vs /ˈmʌl/; final /tər/ vs /tə/.
The difficulty lies in the sequence of short vowels and the cluster around the middle: mul-ti-me-ter. The first syllable uses a lax, quick vowel, the second has a quick ‘ti,’ and the last two require careful articulation of the ‘mee’ and ‘ter’ sounds, especially the /t/ + /ɚ/ or /tə/ transition. Non-native speakers may also misplace the primary stress, confusing the four-syllable rhythm. Practice with slow, deliberate enunciation, then speed up while maintaining precise vowel length and final consonant clarity.
A unique pronunciation focus is the /m/ onset followed by a clipped /l/ and the strong /t/ onset of the second syllable. The sequence 'multi-' can be misheard as 'mull-tee' or ‘mull-tih-’, so you should anchor the second syllable with a clear /ti/ and avoid elongating the first syllable. Also, note that in rapid speech, the middle vowels can reduce: /ˈməl.təˌmiː.tə/ in some casual variants; keep the clear /ti/ and /mi/ to retain intelligibility in technical settings.
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Multimeter derives from the combination of multiple measurement capabilities into a single instrument. The prefix multi- means ‘many’ from Latin multi-; meter comes from the Greek metron meaning ‘measure.’ The term evolved in the 20th century as electronic measuring devices became specialized and then integrated. Early walkie devices and voltmeters existed separately; as electronics grew more compact and user-friendly, the concept of a single instrument able to perform voltage, current, resistance, and sometimes additional functions like capacitance or continuity checks emerged. The first known use of multimeter in industrial and consumer contexts traces to mid-20th century, with device manufacturers marketing “multimeters” to technicians and hobbyists. By the late 1960s and 1970s, digital readouts and auto-ranging features popularized the modern multimeter. The word has since become standard in electronics, electrical work, and education, signifying a portable, multi-function measurement tool that consolidates several meters into one handheld unit.
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Help others use "Multimeter" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Multimeter" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Multimeter" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Multimeter"
-ter sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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