---
title: "How to pronounce \"catathesis\" in English | SayItVid"
description: "Learn how to say \"catathesis\" correctly. Watch real-life video examples and master your English pronunciation with SayItVid."
url: "https://sayitvid.com/pronounce/catathesis"
---


# How to pronounce "catathesis" in English

## Pronunciation & Phonetics

- **IPA**: `/kætæθɛsɪs/`
- **Syllable Breakdown**: **ca·ta·the·sis**

## Meaning & Usage

### NOUN
- Downstep or downdrift, particularly in non-tonal languages such as Japanese and English.
  - *Example*: "The term ‘downstep’ was first used to refer to certain well-known phenomena in African tone languages that vaguely resemble the tonal implementation phenomenon we describe here. Since we are not in a position now to evaluate the precise extent of the formal similarity between the two classes of phenomena, we will use the term ‘catathesis’ only, withdrawing the term ‘downstep’ as it was used in Pierrehumbert (1980) and Beckman & Pierrehumbert (1985) out of deference to the Africanist usage."

### Example Sentences
- "The term ‘downstep’ was first used to refer to certain well-known phenomena in African tone languages that vaguely resemble the tonal implementation phenomenon we describe here. Since we are not in a position now to evaluate the precise extent of the formal similarity between the two classes of phenomena, we will use the term ‘catathesis’ only, withdrawing the term ‘downstep’ as it was used in Pierrehumbert (1980) and Beckman & Pierrehumbert (1985) out of deference to the Africanist usage."

## Video Examples

No video clips currently matched "catathesis". Try searching for synonyms or root words.

## How to Pronounce "catathesis"

- **Syllables**: ca · ta · the · sis
- **IPA**: `/kætæθɛsɪs/`
- **Listen for**: the stressed syllable in the pronunciation — notice how the vowel sound is clearly emphasized.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How do you pronounce “catathesis”?
“catathesis” is pronounced /kætæθɛsɪs/ (ca · ta · the · sis). Listen to the audio pronunciation above to hear it spoken clearly.

### How many syllables are in “catathesis”?
“catathesis” has 4 syllables: ca · ta · the · sis.

### What does “catathesis” mean?
Downstep or downdrift, particularly in non-tonal languages such as Japanese and English.


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