Anthem is a noun referring to a choral tune or song of praise, often associated with a formal or ceremonial occasion, or a notable patriotic song. It can also mean a guiding or unified symbol or idea that represents a group or nation. The term emphasizes collective voice and ceremonial expression, rather than individual instruction or casual singing.
US: /ˈæn.θɛm/ with a clear θ; keep /æ/ bright and short; US tends to be less precise with /θ/ in casual speech. UK: more careful dental articulation; stress is still on AN but with crisper θ and less vowel reduction; /θ/ may be articulated with a stronger dental emphasis. AU: often a slightly more centralized /æ/ and a quicker /θ/; keep the air stream light and the tongue forward; the second syllable tends to be less prominent. IPA references: US /ˈæn.θɛm/, UK /ˈæn.θɛm/, AU /ˈæn.θɛm/.
"The choir performed the national anthem at the fireworks display."
"We gathered around the piano to sing a commemorative anthem."
"Her declaration became an anthem for the movement, symbolizing unity."
"The team’s anthem echoed through the stadium as fans cheered."
Anthem derives from the Greek word antiphon, meaning a response or antiphon, which itself comes from anti- (against) and phone (voice, sound). In Greek liturgical and choral contexts, antiphon referred to a short chant sung by two groups in alternation. The term passed into Latin as antiphona, and in Medieval Latin it took on the sense of a formal song or hymn. By the 14th–15th centuries in English, anthem appeared to denote a sung piece with text, often in a liturgical context. The modern sense broadened in the 18th and 19th centuries to include patriotic or ceremonial songs that function as a rallying or unifying piece for a group. The word’s usage evolved from strictly religious choral usage to secular, nationalistic, and organizational anthems, retaining emphasis on unison or solemn voice. First known use in English attested in the Middle Ages, with the broader secular adoption becoming prominent in the Romantic era as nations formed strong collective identities through song.
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Words that rhyme with "Anthem"
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Pronounce as AN- th- em, with primary stress on AN. The IPA is /ˈæn.ˌθɛm/ in US and UK;-often written as /ˈæn.θɛm/ with the θ sound. Start with the short ‘a’ as in cat, then the voiceless dental fricative θ, then ‘em’ with a short e. Tip: don’t conflate with ‘anthem’ spelled differently; ensure the θ is audible between n and em. Listen to a clean pronunciation: /ˈæn.θɛm/ and imitate the place of articulation.
Common mistakes: 1) Turning θ into f or s (e.g., ‘an-fem’ or ‘an-shem’). 2) Slurring the θ so it blends with n, producing /ˈæn.nɛm/. 3) Overemphasizing the second syllable or misplacing stress. Correction: produce a clear dental fricative θ by placing the tongue tip between teeth and forcing air; keep the first syllable stressed and the second reduced to a quick -em; ensure the /æ/ is bright and short, not a broader /e/. Practice with minimal pairs: anthem vs. a-then? Use careful tongue position: tip behind upper front teeth, blade near the alveolar ridge.
US/UK/AU share /ˈæn.θɛm/ but /θ/ may be realized with greater dental precision in careful UK speech; US tends to be slightly more relaxed, with a quicker transition between /æ/ and /θ/. Australian English may have a slightly more centralized vowel in the /æ/ and a faster, lighter /θ/; rhoticity is not relevant here since there is no /r/ in anthem. Overall, the core is the /æ/ in AN, followed by a clear /θ/ before /ɛm/. Listen to native speakers in each variant and mimic the timing: short first vowel, dental fricative, short 'em'.
Because of the dental fricative /θ/ between two consonants and the short, clipped /æ/ before it, which can be unfamiliar for speakers whose native language lacks dental fricatives. The sequence /æn θɛm/ requires precise tongue placement with a small air stream through the teeth, preventing the sound from blending into /n/ or /t/; the second syllable /-θɛm/ demands a quick, crisp onset to avoid coalescing with /m/. Adults often over- or under-articulate the θ; practice with placed tongue and controlled airflow.
The key unique aspect is the mid-position θ that sits between the /æ/ and /ɛm/ sounds, requiring a precise dental fricative articulation less common in many languages. Unlike many words with common cluster endings, anthem has a short 'em' ending that must not be pronounced as a separate syllable or elongated. Focus on keeping a tight, unvoiced θ, maintaining crisp /æ/ quality, and finishing with a concise /m/ without lip rounding.
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