Analyse is a verb meaning to examine methodically and in detail in order to explain and interpret. In British English it is commonly spelled with the 's' (analyse), while in American English the variant 'analyze' uses a 'z'. The word implies careful inspection, inference, and synthesis of information to reach conclusions or hypotheses.
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- US: rhotic accent doesn’t affect the word much; keep /æ/ in first syllable, reduce middle to /ə/, end with /laɪz/. - UK: decisive, crisp articulation of /æ/ and /nə/ with clear /laɪz/; keep the middle syllable light and quick. - AU: closer to UK in rhythm and vowel quality; aim for /ˈæ.nə.laɪz/ with a more relaxed jaw and rounded lips slightly on the /ə/. IPA anchors: US /ˈæn.ə.laɪz/, UK /ˈæ.nəˌlaɪz/, AU /ˈæ.nə.laɪz/. - General tip: keep the second syllable compact and unstressed, avoid prolonging /ə/ into /ɜː/. - Mouth positions: start with a low-open /æ/; relax the jaw for /ə/; end with a rounded /laɪz/ using the tip of the tongue behind the lower front teeth for /l/ and the blade for /ɪ/ before z.
"We need to analyse the data from this experiment before drawing any conclusions."
"Researchers analysed the patient's genome to identify potential mutations."
"The committee will analyse several proposals to determine feasibility and impact."
"Before publishing, he analysed the interview transcripts for recurring themes."
Analyse originates from the Greek prefix ana- meaning up, again, and the verb lysis meaning loosening or dissolving, from the root luein meaning to loosen. The term was adopted into English via Late Latin and French during the 16th to 17th centuries, aligning with emerging analytical and scientific discourse. The spelling analyse reflects British conventions styled to preserve the original -yse ending seen in other Greek-derived terms like catalyse and paralyse. In American English, the -yse suffix often shifts to -yze, giving analyze as the preferred form, while the meaning remains the same. First tied to scientific and scholastic usage, the word has broadened to general critical inspection in journalism, business, and everyday problem-solving. The shift of meaning from a strictly technical sense to broader cognitive scrutiny mirrors the rise of analytic philosophy, data-driven research, and systematic problem-solving in modern discourse. The earliest known uses appear in early modern English medical and philosophical texts, with later widespread adoption in academic scholarship and analytics practice. Over time, analyse has retained its core sense of careful dissection, but has expanded to describe both qualitative and quantitative examination across diverse fields.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "analyse" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "analyse" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "analyse"
-ise sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
You pronounce it as /ˈæ.nə.laɪz/ in UK and many Commonwealth varieties, with stress on the first syllable. In US practice, you’ll see /ˈæ.nə.laɪz/ as well, though some speakers may shorten the vowel slightly in rapid speech. Start with /æ/ as in 'cat', then a schwa-like /ə/ in the second syllable, and finish with /laɪz/ as in 'lies'. Think: AN-uh-lyze, with the emphasis on the first syllable and a clear -ize ending. IPA reference: US /ˈæn.ə.laɪz/, UK /ˈæ.nə.laɪz/.
Common mistakes include flattening the middle vowel to a full /eɪ/ or /e/ in the second syllable and misplacing the final consonant as /z/ vs /s/ in connected speech. Another frequent error is misplacing the stress, pronouncing it as a three-syllable word with even stress or misplacing the /æ/ sound. Correction: keep a clear /ˈæ/ on the first syllable, a short, unstressed /ə/ in the second, and end with /laɪz/; ensure final is clearly voiced /z/ in most dialects.
Across accents, the word is generally /ˈæ.nə.laɪz/ with the -ize ending. In British and many Commonwealth accents, the final is voiced /z/. In some American regional varieties, you’ll occasionally hear a less stressed first syllable or a slight vowel shift, but the standard remains /ˈæ.nə.laɪz/. Australian speakers typically maintain the British pattern with /ˈæ.nə.laɪz/ as well, though vowel reduction in the middle syllable can occur in rapid speech. IPA benchmarks: US /ˈæn.əˌlaɪz/ or /ˈæ.nəˌlaɪz/, UK /ˈæ.nəˌlaɪz/.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllable structure and the /æ/ plus schwa in the middle with a final /laɪz/ cluster. Speakers often mispronounce the middle vowel as a full vowel or misplace the stress across three syllables. Focus on keeping the first syllable with /æ/, then a quick, relaxed /ə/ in the second, and a crisp /laɪz/ at the end. Pay attention to keeping the final consonant voiced /z/ in most pronunciations.
One unique feature is the retention of the British spelling and pronunciation alignment in British and Commonwealth contexts, where the stress remains on the first syllable and the final /z/ sound is voiced. In casual speech, some speakers may reduce the second syllable slightly, producing a more subdued /nə/ before /laɪz/. The key is to preserve the crisp ending /laɪz/ and avoid turning it into /laɪs/ or /ləaɪz/.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "analyse"!
- Shadowing: listen to a native speaker say /ˈæ.nə.laɪz/ and repeat after 5–7 seconds, matching rhythm and stress. - Minimal pairs: compare analyse vs. analyze (the only difference is -yse vs -ize in spelling; in sound they’re the same). Also practise with: cat – can – kac? Not relevant; focus: /æ/ vs /eɪ/ rarely occurs in other forms; practise with /æ/ + /nə/ + /laɪz/. - Rhythm practice: slow (æ.nə.laɪz), normal (æ.nəˈlaɪz), fast (æ.nəˈlaɪz). - Stress patterns: keep primary stress on the first syllable; if you say it as /ˈæ.nəˌlaɪz/, ensure the second syllable is lighter. - Intonation: in a sentence, rise slightly on the final word when asking about interpretation, e.g., “Let's analyse the data.”. - Recording: record yourself reading a paragraph and specifically mark occurrences of analyse; compare to a native speaker. - Techniques: use 4-step approach: articulation, resonance, fluency, accuracy. - Context practice: use analyse in scientific, journalistic, and everyday contexts to lock in multi-register pronunciation.
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