4 syllables: A, nom, a, ly. Stress on nom.
uh-NAH-muh-lee
/əˈnɑməli/
Anomaly is pronounced uh-NAH-muh-lee (/əˈnɑməli/). It has four syllables (A-nom-a-ly), with the stress on "nom". Anomaly (noun) refers to something that deviates from the standard, normal, or expected; it denotes a peculiarity or exceptional case that stands out from the common pattern. In science and statistics, it describes an observation that diverges from the norm and may indicate unusual or significant conditions. The term often implies rarity or irregularity within a system or dataset.
nounAnomaly (noun) refers to something that deviates from the standard, normal, or expected; it denotes a peculiarity or exceptional case that stands out from the common pattern. In science and statistics, it describes an observation that diverges from the norm and may indicate unusual or significant conditions. The term often implies rarity or irregularity within a system or dataset.
- You often misplace stress on the first syllable (A-nom-a-ly). Remember: primary stress is on the second syllable: a-NOM-a-ly. Practicing with timed repetition helps you feel the rhythm. - You may either overpronounce the second syllable or underpronounce the final -ly. Aim for the middle: /nɒmə/ followed by a light /li/. - The /ɒ/ vowel can be pronounced too open or closed; target the short, rounded /ɒ/ as in ‘lot’ rather than an open /ɑ/. Use minimal pairs to train this contrast (nominal vs anomaly).
How to Pronounce Anomaly
"The lab detected an anomaly in the temperature readings that suggested a faulty sensor."
"Her late arrival was noted as an anomaly in an otherwise punctual team."
"Researchers treated the sudden spike in the data as an anomaly to be investigated."
Anomaly is pronounced ə-NOM-uh-lee with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU: əˈnɒməli. Start with a schwa, then a quick 'nom' as in 'nominate,' followed by a soft 'uh,' and end with an 'lee' sound. Pay attention to the /nɒ/ vowel: short, open back rounded vowel in non-rhotic accents. You’ll likely feel the mouth close after the second syllable. Audio reference: use Cambridge/Oxford pronunciations or Forvo to hear the /ˈnɒ/ in syllable 2.
Two common errors: (1) Over-stressing the first syllable: you should stress the second syllable, not the initial one, which makes it sound like ‘AN-uh-muh-ly.’ (2) Mispronouncing the mid vowel: aim for /ɒ/ as in 'lot' rather than a broader /ɑ/ or /ɑː/ sound. Ensure the final -ly is a light, short /li/ rather than a heavy ending. Practicing with minimal pairs like ‘nominal’ helps iron out the rhythm.
US pronunciation: əˈnɒməli with rhotic r not present in the word; UK: əˈnɒməli, slightly shorter vowels in non-rhotic varieties; AU: əˈnɒməli, with Australian vowel quality slightly closer to US in some speakers. The main difference is vowel height in the /ɒ/ and the final /li/ syllable cohesion. Accent-specific cues: US speakers often reduce /ə/ in unstressed positions, UK tends toward crisper /ɒ/ without rhoticization, AU may show flatter intonation contours.
Difficulties arise from the three-syllable structure with the schwa in the first syllable and a stressed /ɒ/ in the second, plus a light, fast final -ly. The cluster /nɒ/ followed by /mə-/ can trip speakers on vowel length and consonant clarity. Additionally, non-native ears may misplace primary stress and mispronounce the -ly ending as -l-ee or -lee. Focusing on the exact IPA for /ɒ/ and the light /l/ can improve accuracy.
Yes. The central difficulty is maintaining the nearly silent or subtle second vowel in some accents and maintaining crisp syllable boundaries: a-NOM-a-ly. The delicate balance of a short, clipped second syllable and a clear final /li/ is what separates natural-sounding speech from hesitant or over-enunciated delivery. Use slow practice to stabilize each phoneme before speed drills.
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- US: emphasize the second syllable, keep the /ɒ/ mid-back rounded sound; final /li/ is a light, quick consonant cluster. - UK: similar pattern but with crisper short vowels and non-rhoticity; ensure the /ɒ/ is compact and the final /li/ doesn't devoice. - AU: tends to a more centralized or slightly higher /ɒ/ depending on speaker; maintain a clean /li/ with minimal vowel coloring. Reference IPA details for all: /əˈnɒməli/ (US/UK/AU vary slightly in the mid vowel height and length).
Anomaly comes from the Greek anomalía, from ana- (up, apart) + logos (reason, word, speech), literally meaning ‘a deviation from the law or rule.’ The term entered English through Late Latin and French influences, gaining usage in scientific and mathematical contexts to describe deviations from expected patterns. Early uses in the 18th–19th centuries framed anomalies as observations that did not conform to established laws or general expectations, a usage that expanded with the growth of statistics and natural philosophy. Over time, “anomaly” has broadened to cover any irregularity or peculiarity in data, behavior, or phenomena, often flagging need for further investigation. In modern science, anomalies can be pivotal, signaling measurement error, new physics, or rare events. The word’s evolving sense mirrors shifts in epistemology: from rigid rule-following to recognizing and examining the unexpected as potentially informative. First known uses trace to Greek via Latin scholars who preserved the term for deviations from a rule or law, which later anchored it in scientific discourse as a formal noun describing outliers and irregular observations.
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Words that rhyme with "Anomaly"
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