Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

in utero

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.70 in modern English

Syllables: in- utero
IPA

7

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

Occurring while a baby is within their mother's womb.

adj

Occurring while a baby is within their mother's womb.

Example Sentences

"Most organic species are capable of developing biotic abilities, though there are risks involved. Biotics are the result of in-utero exposure to element zero. This usually causes fatal cancers in the victim, but in rare cases it coalesces into nodules within the fetus's developing nervous system."
"A major research effort in Dr. Nawrot's group is focusing on understanding in utero factors that shape disease risk later in life."
"Magana traces his love for music back to an experience in utero: In the spring of 1993, his pregnant mother attended a Guns N’ Roses show at Mexico City’s Palacio de los Deportes."

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin in utero (“in the uterus”).

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: in utero

Inflected Forms

in-utero (alternative)

Synonyms

prenatally prenatal

Questions

What does in utero mean?: Occurring while a baby is within their mother's womb.
Where does in utero come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce in utero

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “in utero”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “in utero”.
Repeat and practice — Say “in utero” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.