Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

meta-

/məˈtæ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.74 in modern English

Syllables
meta-
IPA
/məˈtæ/
6
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

prefix

Behind.

prefix

Later or subsequent.

prefix

Situated between two segments.

Obsolete

prefix

Having fewer molecules of water than the ortho- equivalent.

prefix

in isomeric benzene derivatives, having the two substituents in alternate (1,3) positions; contrasted with ortho- and para-.

prefix

Relating to metabolism.

prefix

Transcending, encompassing.

prefix

Pertaining to a level above or beyond; reflexive or recursive; about itself or about other things of the same type. For example, metadata is data that describes data, metalanguage is language that describes language, etc.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *me Proto-Indo-European *meth₂? Ancient Greek μετᾰ́ (metắ) Ancient Greek μετᾰ- (metă-)lbor. English meta- Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek μετα- (meta-), from μετά (metá), from Mycenaean Greek 𐀕𐀲 (me-ta), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *meth₂ (“in the middle”).

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /məˈtæ/
  • British English: /mɪˈta/

Usage

Inflected Forms

met- (alternative)

Phrases

protero- epi-

Frequently Paired Words

protero- epi-

Questions

How do you pronounce meta-?
The recorded pronunciation is /məˈtæ/.
What does meta- mean?
Behind.
Where does meta- come from?
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *me Proto-Indo-European *meth₂? Ancient Greek μετᾰ́ (metắ) Ancient Greek μετᾰ- (metă-)lbor. English meta- Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek μετα- (meta-), from μετά (metá), from Mycenaean Greek 𐀕𐀲 (me-ta), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *meth₂ (“in the middle”).

How to pronounce meta-

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