4 syllables: an, ˈthol, o, gy. Stress on ˈthol.
an-THAH-luh-jee
/æˈnθɑlədʒi/
Anthology is pronounced an-THAH-luh-jee (/æˈnθɑlədʒi/). It has four syllables (an-ˈthol-o-gy), with the stress on "ˈthol". Anthology is a collection of literary works or passages selected for particular themes, authors, or time periods. It is commonly used to refer to a curated compilation of writings, poems, or stories. The term emphasizes the assemblage and curation rather than the individual pieces.
nounAnthology is a collection of literary works or passages selected for particular themes, authors, or time periods. It is commonly used to refer to a curated compilation of writings, poems, or stories. The term emphasizes the assemblage and curation rather than the individual pieces.
- Over-simplifying the middle consonant cluster, e.g., pronouncing as /ənˈθɒləɡi/ dropping the /dʒ/; correct by releasing /dʒ/ clearly before the final /i/. • - Confusing /θ/ with /t/ or /f/; practice placing the tongue between upper teeth and bottom lip, voiceless breathy sound. • - Not maintaining primary stress on the second syllable; rehearse with hand tapping on the second syllable to anchor stress.
"The campus library released a new poetry anthology for students."
"She contributed several poems to an anthology of 19th‑century verse."
"The course required reading from an anthology of short stories."
US: /ænˈθɒlədʒi/ or /æ nˈ θɒ l ə dʒ i /. Primary stress on the second syllable: an-THOL-o-gy. UK: /ˈænθɒlədʒi/ with similar stress shift; AU: /ˌænˈθɒlədʒi/; all share /θ/ as in think, and /dʒ/ as in judge. Visual cue: think 'AN-tholl-uh-jee' with a crisp /θ/.
Common mistakes include misplacing the primary stress (saying an-THOL-o-gy with the stress on the first syllable) and blurring the /θ/ into /s/ or /t/, or merging the /dʒ/ with preceding vowel. Corrective tips: keep the /θ/ as a voiceless dental fricative, maintain clear /l/ in the middle, and pronounce the final /dʒi/ as /dʒi/ rather than /ji/; stress the second syllable distinctly: an-THOL-uh-jee.
US: /ænˈθɒl.ə.dʒi/ with slightly more rounded /ɒ/ and clear /θ/, rhotic /ər/ is not present; UK: /ˈæn θɒ.lə.dʒi/ or /ˈænθəˌlɒdʒi/ with sharper /θ/ and a shorter schwa; AU: /ˌænˈθɒl.ə.dʒi/ tends to a flatter /ə/ in the final syllable and non-rhoticity can influence vowel color. Across accents, ensure the middle syllable has secondary stress or fall in rhythm.
Difficulties come from the cluster /θ/ (thorn sound) after a stressed syllable and the /lɒ/ sequence, followed by /dʒ/ in ‘gy’ at the end. The sequence of a voiceless fricative, a light /l/ and a voiced affricate is uncommon in many languages. The trick is to articulate each element cleanly: a dental /θ/ in second syllable, an alveolar /l/ with light contact, then the affricate /dʒ/ clearly before the final /i/.
Unique question: Does the word ever reduce the middle syllable? No—stress remains on the second syllable (an-THOL-o-gy). The middle syllable is a light, quick schwa or reduced vowel in fluent speech, but still distinct from a full vowel in careful pronunciation. Keep the sequence /æ n ˈ θ ɒ l ə dʒ i/ with stable /æ/ or /ɑ/ in the first, and a crisp /dʒ/ before final /i/.
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- US: rhoticity affects vowel length in some adjacent vowels; emphasize the /ɒ/ as in 'cot' with a more open jaw. • UK: shorter /ɒ/ and crisper /θ/. • AU: similar to UK but tends toward a slightly weaker final diphthong on /i/; keep the /dʒ/ precise. IPA guides: /æ nˈθɒləˌdʒi/ or /ænˈθɒlədi/ depending on speaker. • Focus on maintaining distinct /θ/ and /dʒ/ and a clear middle /l/.
Anthology comes from the Late Latin anthology, borrowed from the Greek antología, from anthos ‘flower’ + logia ‘collection’ (literally, a collection of flowers). The Greek term referred to a collection of poems or flowers, metaphorically a bouquet of literary pieces. The Latinized form appeared in the 17th century in reference to a curated selection of writings. Over time, English usage broadened from poetry collections to include mixed literary works such as short stories, essays, and excerpts, all curated around a unifying theme or author. First used in a literary context to describe a poetry collection, the term now covers diverse compendiums across genres, maintaining its sense of curated, thematically linked content.
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Words that rhyme with "Anthology"
-ogy sounds
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