3 syllables: an, ec, dotes. Stress on an.
AN-uhk-dohts
/ˈænəˌkdoʊts/
anecdotes is pronounced AN-uhk-dohts (/ˈænəˌkdoʊts/). It has three syllables (an-ec-dotes), with the stress on "an". A concise plural noun meaning short, amusing or interesting informal stories about real people or events. Anecdotes are typically brief, vivid, and used to illustrate a point or entertain. They enrich discussions with personal experiences, often contrasting with generalized facts.
A concise plural noun meaning short, amusing or interesting informal stories about real people or events. Anecdotes are typically brief, vivid, and used to illustrate a point or entertain. They enrich discussions with personal experiences, often contrasting with generalized facts.
"She shared several anecdotes from her travels to illustrate how the city cured her homesickness."
"During the workshop, the speaker sprinkled anecdotes to keep the audience engaged."
"The colleague’s anecdotes about late shipments highlighted the challenges of logistics."
Break it into four phonemes: /ˈæn.ɪk.dəts/. The primary stress is on the first syllable. Start with a short open front unrounded vowel /æ/ as in “cat,” then /n/; the second syllable uses a reduced /ɪ/ like a quick “ih” and an unstressed /k/ as in “kit.” The third syllable is /dət/ with a schwa-like /ə/ before the final /ts/. In fast speech, you may hear /ˈæn.ɪkˌdoʊts/ or /ˈæn.ɪk.dəts/ depending on speaker. For audio reference, try listening to native speakers pronouncing “anecdotes” in natural speech. IPA: US /ˈæn.ɪk.dəts/; UK /ˈæn.ɪk.dəts/; AU /ˈæn.ɪk.dəts/.
Common mistakes: 1) Slurring the second syllable into /ɪk/ or skipping it, giving /ˈæˌnɛk.dɔts/; 2) Misplacing stress, saying /ˈæ.nɪk.detz/ with late stress on the final syllable; 3) Ending with a hard /t/ or not releasing the /t/ leading to a clipped /ts/ sound. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, produce /ˈæn.ɪk.dəts/ with a light, quick /ə/ before the final /ts/, and ensure the /d/ is clearly a touch of a stop before the /ə/ and /ts/.
Across US/UK/AU, the core /ˈæn.ɪk.dəts/ remains, but rhoticity and vowel quality shape the sound. US and AU typically have a strong /æ/ in the first syllable with a rhotic influence softer in connected speech; UK emphasizes non-rhoticity with slightly crisper T handling in some speakers. The /ə/ in the third syllable is a schwa in most accents, but the /ɔ/ or /ɪ/ in neighboring vowels can vary slightly with regional vowel shifts. Overall syllable count and primary stress stay consistent: two unstressed vowels around the /ˈæn/ onset, and a final /dəts/ cluster.
It’s tricky because of the sequence /ˈæn.ɪk.dəts/ with a light, almost reduced second vowel and a final consonant cluster /dɔts/ or /dəts/. The challenge is maintaining the clear /d/ before a schwa and the crisp final /ts/ without sounding like /dɒts/ or /dæts/. Also, keeping the initial /æ/ quality steady in rapid speech and avoiding over-enunciation of the middle syllable requires controlled jaw tension and tongue positioning. Practice with slow repetition to stabilize the rhythm.
A unique angle is the role of the secondary stress and syllable timing in fast speech. While the primary stress sits on the first syllable, a native speaker might transiently emphasize the second syllable in connected speech for emphasis or rhythm, like /ˈæn.ɪkˌ.dəts/. The /k/ is a hard, quick stop before the /d/; the second syllable often reduces to /ɪk/ with a light /d/ following. Being aware of the optional secondary stress and practicing with varying tempos helps nail natural, naturalistic pronunciation.
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Anecdote comes from the Greek anekdota (ἀνέκδοτα), meaning ‘unpublished things’. The term was coined in classical Greek to describe things not published or not publicly known. In later Latin and medieval usage, anecdota referred to unpublished matters or reports, often brief narratives about personal experiences. The modern English form appears in the 16th century, shifting to mean short, entertaining personal stories rather than mere unpublished notes. The sense broadened during the 18th and 19th centuries to denote any short narrative used to illustrate a point, particularly in conversation, essays, or journalism. The word’s value as a compact, relatable illustration diverges from more formal evidence, making anecdotes a staple in rhetoric and classroom discourse. First known use in print traces to the mid-1500s in scholarly and travel writings, gradually adopting the current commonplace usage by the 1700s. The etymology tracks a move from unpublished or private matters to widely shared, vivid, oral narratives that illuminate broader themes.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "anecdotes" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "anecdotes" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "anecdotes"
-tes sounds
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