American English pronunciation

How to pronounce data

/ˈdeɪtə/DAY-tuh2 syllables

“data” comes up constantly at work, so it's worth getting right. It's 2 syllables (DAY-tuh), and the trick is in the sounds below — hear it, then say it back and let our AI model show you how close you landed.

Say it & get scored

Hear data, then record yourself and our AI model will score your pronunciation, sound by sound.

The sounds to nail

  • /d/as in day

    Tongue tip on the gum ridge, voiced. Between vowels in American English, often becomes a quick flap.

  • //as in face

    Start near 'eh', glide up to 'iy'. Hold the diphthong — don't shorten it.

  • /ʌ/as in cup

    Relaxed central vowel (sometimes a schwa /ə/ when unstressed). Don't pronounce the full vowel in unstressed syllables.

Trickier for some first languages

The sounds in “data” are common stumbling blocks for speakers of:

Common questions

How many syllables are in “data”?
“Data” has 2 syllables: DAY-tuh.
What is the IPA for “data”?
The American English IPA transcription of “data” is ˈdeɪtə.
How can I practice pronouncing “data”?
Press play to hear “data” spoken by our AI model, then record yourself on this page to get an instant pronunciation score — your first try needs no account.

Track your progress, free.

Create a free account to save your scores, see which sounds you miss most, and get drills picked for your native language.

More words to practice

How to Pronounce “Data” · Crisp Speak