3 syllables: A, ni, me. Stress on me.
an-im-AY
/ˌænɪˈmeɪ/
Anime is pronounced an-im-AY (/ˌænɪˈmeɪ/). It has three syllables (A-ni-me), with the stress on "me". Anime (noun) refers to a style of animation that originated in Japan, characterized by vibrant art, fantastical themes, and expressive characters. The term originally described animation as a whole in Japan but has come to denote Japanese-style animation globally. In English, it often refers to animated media products and related fan cultures rather than the broader art form. Pronunciation tends to align with Japanese loanword adaptation, not English phonology.
nounAnime (noun) refers to a style of animation that originated in Japan, characterized by vibrant art, fantastical themes, and expressive characters. The term originally described animation as a whole in Japan but has come to denote Japanese-style animation globally. In English, it often refers to animated media products and related fan cultures rather than the broader art form. Pronunciation tends to align with Japanese loanword adaptation, not English phonology.
How to Pronounce Anime
"I binge-watched the latest anime series with English subtitles."
"The anime conventions this weekend drew fans from all over the country."
"She collects anime figurines and follows multiple studios."
Pronounce it as AN-uh-may with the stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU /ˈæn.aɪ.meɪ/. Start with an open front unrounded vowel /æ/ in the first syllable, then the diphthong /aɪ/ as in 'eye' for the second vowel, finishing with /meɪ/ (like 'may'). Keep the second syllable light and quick, so the emphasis stays on the first syllable. You’ll want a clean /ɑ/ to /æ/ transition, then glide into /ɪ/ or /aɪ/ depending on speaker influence, but keep it concise: AN‑i‑may depending on speaker.
Common errors: misplacing stress (e.g., a-NI-me), mispronouncing the second syllable as /-iŋ/ or /-eem/; overpronouncing the final /eɪ/ as /eɪi/ or a long /eɪ/. Correction: keep the final syllable short and clear with /meɪ/. Attach correct vowel qualities: /æ/ in the first, /aɪ/ in the second, /meɪ/ final. Practice with slow tempo then increase speed while preserving the /ˈæn.aɪ.meɪ/ rhythm.
US/UK/AU share the same core /ˈæn.aɪ.meɪ/ pronunciation, but subtle differences appear in vowel quality and rhoticity. In non-rhotic UK accents, the /r/ is not pronounced, but here there is no /r/. US speakers may have a more pronounced /æ/ and the /aɪ/ glide slightly longer; some AU speakers may soften the second syllable with a shorter /ɪ/ sound. Overall the primary stress remains on the first syllable across all three.
Difficult because the word fuses English and Japanese phonology: the first /æ/ is quick and open, the /aɪ/ glides, and the final /eɪ/ is a rising diphthong. Non-native speakers may apply native-language stress patterns or substitute vowels (e.g., /æni/ or /æˈnɪ.meɪ/). Also, the slight ambiguity of how long to hold the middle vowel can create uneven rhythm. Focus on the crisp three-syllable rhythm: AN-i-meɪ.
The word is a loanword from Japanese, yet in English it’s treated as a standard noun with three syllables and a fixed stress on the first syllable. Learners often forget the final /eɪ/ is a diphthong and not a long /iː/ or a silent ending. The middle syllable often reduces to a quick /ɪ/ sound rather than a full vowel, giving a rapid, compact rhythm: AN-ih-may.
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Anime is a shortened form of animation, first used in Japan in the early 20th century. The term comes from the English word animation, borrowed into Japanese as anime (アニメ). It emerged as a distinct category in Japan in the postwar era, where it denoted all forms of animation but gained international traction in the late 20th century as Western audiences began consuming Japanese-produced animated works. The global adoption of the term reflects the rise of Japanese pop culture, with studios like Toei Animation and Madhouse producing works that defined the genre. Early Western reception often used the term ‘anime’ to distinguish Japanese animation from Western cartoons; today it also encompasses subgenres, including shonen, shojo, mecha, and slice-of-life formats. First known English usage in a formal sense appears in scholarly writing and media from the 1980s onward, increasingly popularized by fan communities and licensing agreements for distribution abroad.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Anime" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Anime"
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