Antipode is a noun meaning a point exactly opposite another on the globe, or a person or thing diametrically opposed. In geography, it refers to the location directly opposite a given point on the Earth’s surface. More broadly, it can denote any polar opposite or complete contrast in ideas or positions. The term carries formal, scholarly tone and is often used in academic or geographic contexts.
US: /ˌæn.tɪˈpoʊd/; pronounce /æ/ as in cat, /tɪ/ as quick, /poʊd/ with a rounded, closing diphthong; keep final /d/ clear. UK: /ˌæn.tɪˈpəʊd/; /əʊ/ first element is a rounded mid back vowel; non-rhotic tends toward a slightly weaker final /d/ in rapid speech; US coalesces /poʊd/ more distinctly. AU: /ˌæn.tɪˈpoːd/; lengthen the final vowel, more open back vowel quality in the final syllable; slight vowel flattening may occur; maintain the /d/ strongly. Facts: IPA references for cross-checks with major dictionaries.
"Researchers mapped the antipode of New Zealand to the Iberian Peninsula to study historical sea routes."
"To reach his antipode in the argument, he argued from a diametrically different cultural perspective."
"Cartographers sometimes illustrate antipodes when explaining global navigation and time zones."
"The novel presents an antipode relationship between characters whose goals and beliefs are fundamentally opposed."
Antipode comes from Late Latin antipoda, from Greek antipōdēs (antip- ‘opposite’ + pōdēs ‘foot’), literally meaning ‘opposite foot’. The term was used in ancient Greek geography to describe a place that is the opposite side of the world from a reference point, typically near the feet as a metaphor for directly opposite. In English, antipode appeared in the 17th century, adopted in scientific and travel literature to denote one point diametrically opposite on the globe. Over time, its use broadened to imply absolute opposition in ideas or systems, not just geography. The word’s components reflect the image of two points on a sphere separated by the planet’s circumference, conceptually linked to a fixed, opposite position. First known print attestations surface in scholarly works discussing cartography and navigation, with usage cemented in Enlightenment-era geography and exploration discourse. The progression from literal geographic meaning to metaphorical opposition mirrors the period’s expansion of global awareness and systematic thinking about world regions.”,
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Words that rhyme with "Antipode"
-ope sounds
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Pronounce as AN-ti-PODE, with primary stress on the final syllable. IPA: US ˌæn.tɪˈpoʊd, UK ˌæn.tɪˈpəʊd, AU ˌæn.tɪˈpoːd. Start with /æ/ as in cat, then /n/, then /tɪ/ (short i), and end with /poʊd/ (US) or /pəʊd/ (UK). Keep the /p/ aspirated, and finish with a crisp /d/. Audio reference: standard dictionary pronunciations in Cambridge/Oxford/Forvo entries will align with these values.
Common errors: (1) Stressing the first syllable: AN-ti-pode. Correction: place primary stress on the last syllable: an-ti-PODE. (2) Slurring the vowel in the final syllable: confuse /oʊ/ with /oɪ/ or a nasalized vowel. Correction: keep /oʊ/ (US) or /əʊ/ (UK) clearly rounded. (3) Mispronouncing the middle vowel as /æ/ or /ɪ/ long. Correction: use a short /ɪ/ in the second syllable: /tɪ/. Practicing minimal pairs can fix these patterns.
US: /ˌæn.tɪˈpoʊd/ with a clear /oʊ/. UK: /ˌæn.tɪˈpəʊd/ featuring /əʊ/ and a reduced middle vowel. AU: /ˌæn.tɪˈpoːd/ with a longer /oː/ or close-mid back rounded vowel depending on speaker. Note rhoticity: US pronounces rhotics clearly; UK and AU may be less rhotic in certain environments. Emphasize the final syllable with a rounded, tense vowel in all variants; the key differences lie in the middle vowel and the diphthong in the final syllable. IPA references align with Cambridge/Oxford entries for cross-checking.
It combines a three-syllable structure with a tertiary stress on the last syllable and a mid-front vowel before a rounded final diphthong. The /ɪ/ in the second syllable and the /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ finals can be tricky when quickly spoken. Also, the word’s meaning makes it a high-utility term in academic discourse, so it often appears in rapid speech, increasing the likelihood of flapping or vowel reduction. Focus on accurate placement of stress and crisp separation of /t/ and /p/ to avoid blending.
There are no silent letters in antipode. Each syllable carries a pronounced vowel: /æ/ in the first, /ɪ/ in the second, and the final /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ with an audible /d/. The t is pronounced clearly as a /t/ in combination with /ɪ/, and the final /d/ is a distinct alveolar stop. Emphasize the final -ode as a single, audible syllable rather than an unpronounced ending, to avoid an abrupt stop between /po/ and /d/.
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