2 syllables: Ze, ta. Stress on Ze.
ZAY-tuh
/ˈzeɪtə/
Zeta is pronounced ZAY-tuh (/ˈzeɪtə/). It has two syllables (Ze-ta), with the stress on "Ze". Zeta is a feminine noun borrowed from Greek, used mainly in mathematics, science, and astronomy to denote a specific letter of the Greek alphabet or a variable. In modern usage it also appears in names and labels. Pronounced with two syllables, it often receives primary stress on the first syllable, and its vowels are clear and open in careful speech.
nounZeta is a feminine noun borrowed from Greek, used mainly in mathematics, science, and astronomy to denote a specific letter of the Greek alphabet or a variable. In modern usage it also appears in names and labels. Pronounced with two syllables, it often receives primary stress on the first syllable, and its vowels are clear and open in careful speech.
How to Pronounce Zeta
"The zeta function plays a central role in number theory."
"In Greek, zeta is the last letter of the alphabet’s lower-case form ζ."
"Astronomers labeled the star as Zeta Andromedae to identify its position."
Say ZE-tah with first-syllable stress. IPA: US/UK/AU /ˈzeɪtə/ or /ˈzɛtə/ in some speakers? No—standard is /ˈziːtə/ or /ˈzeɪtə/? Wait—real standard: /ˈzeɪtə/ for many, but in English scientific usage, you’ll hear /ˈziːtə/? This is tricky. A precise approach: First syllable rhymes with 'say' or 'zee', depending on accent; common, widely accepted is /ˈzeɪtə/ (ZEY-tuh) in American and British science contexts; ensure a clear 'z' consonant, 'e' as a long vowel in the first syllable, and 'ta' as a light schwa-less second syllable. Audio reference: consult Pronounce or Forvo for speaker variants.
Common errors: (1) Reducing ZE to a single unstressed vowel, (2) mispronouncing the first syllable as /ˈziː/ or /ˈzɛ/ instead of /ˈzeɪ/; (3) truncating the second syllable to a weak /tə/ or /tə/ without clear light stress. Correction: keep two full syllables, start with a clear /z/ followed by /eɪ/ or /iː/ depending on the dialect, then a crisp /tə/ with a short, quick ending. Use a short pause after the first syllable in formal settings.
In US English, most speakers use /ˈzeɪtə/ with a long first vowel and rhotic r-lessness in the second syllable. In many UK varieties, you’ll hear /ˈzəɪtə/ or /ˈzeɪtə/ depending on region, with a slightly tighter final consonant and a more clipped second syllable. Australian English tends to align with /ˈzeɪtə/ but can show a slightly flatter vowel in the first syllable and a softer /t/ glottalization in casual speech. Always listen for two clear syllables, stress on the first, and avoid reducing the vowels.
Zeta involves a two-syllable structure with a vowel sequence that sometimes shifts between /eɪ/ and /iː/ depending on speaker and dialect. The tricky part is maintaining the crisp /z/ onset and distinguishing the second syllable’s vowel and the /t/ before a closing vowel without vowel reduction. In fast speech, the second syllable may reduce to a quick /tə/, so you’ll need controlled enunciation to keep both syllables audible.
No silent letters in Zeta. The challenge lies in two-syllable rhythm and vowel quality. You should maintain a strong initial /z/ and a distinct second syllable with a clear /tə/ end. Stress remains on the first syllable, and avoid preferring a long final vowel or dropping the second syllable.
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Zeta originates from the early Greek letter-name zeta (Ζήτα), itself derived from Phoenician and Semitic letter names. The term is tied to the Greek alphabet’s sixth letter and shares roots with the Semitic zayin/zein family, linked to symbols representing weapons or tools in ancient scripts. The name likely reflects a Semitic cognate that signified a letter shape later associated with the sound [z]. In classical Greek, zeta was pronounced as a voiced dental- or alveolar fricative [zd] or [dz] in some dialects, transitioning toward an affricate-like [z] in later Koine and modern Greek. In English, zeta entered scholarly use through Latinized Greek in 17th–18th century science texts, especially in geometry, trigonometry, and astronomy to designate a specific variable or astronomical object. The word has retained its status as a false friend in some languages where zeta resembles sounds not native to the speaker’s dialect. First known use in English texts appears in mathematical and astronomical discussions from the 19th century onward, accelerating with modern notation conventions for Greek-letter variables and functions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Zeta" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Zeta" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Zeta"
-eta sounds
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