2 syllables: Cath, ode. Stress on Cath.
KATH-ohd
/ˈkæˌθoʊd/
Cathode is pronounced KATH-ohd (/ˈkæˌθoʊd/). It has two syllables (Cath-ode), with the stress on "Cath". Cathode is a negatively charged electrode through which electrons enter an electrical device or into a chemical cell. In electrochemistry and electronics, the cathode serves as a site of reduction in electrolytic processes and as the discharge path for conventional current in devices. The term is used across science disciplines to distinguish the electrode opposite the anode.
nounCathode is a negatively charged electrode through which electrons enter an electrical device or into a chemical cell. In electrochemistry and electronics, the cathode serves as a site of reduction in electrolytic processes and as the discharge path for conventional current in devices. The term is used across science disciplines to distinguish the electrode opposite the anode.
- You may replace the /æ/ with a more central vowel like /ə/ when tired; to fix: exaggerate the initial vowel slightly and return to /æ/ in practice drills. - The /θ/ can be softened to a /t/ or omitted; fix by placing your tongue between your teeth and forcing a stream of air through, making sure you use audible dental friction. - The final /d/ can be devoiced in rapid speech; practice with a clearly released d (as in ‘dog’) to maintain sonic accuracy. - In rapid recounting, the two syllables may merge; practice with deliberate pauses between CAT and HOAD to preserve syllable boundaries.
How to Pronounce Cathode
"The cathode in a galvanic cell becomes the source of electrons as the reaction proceeds."
"During electroplating, the object to be plated is connected to the cathode."
"In a vacuum tube, the cathode emits electrons when heated."
Cathode is pronounced CAT-hohd (US/UK). The primary stress sits on the first syllable: /ˈkæθoʊd/ (US) or /ˈkæθəʊd/ (UK). Break it into two parts: CAT + HOED (with a long oʊ). The middle sound is a voiceless dental fricative followed by a long oʊ vowel; keep the mouth open at the start for /æ/ and glide to /oʊ/. You’ll hear it as “CAT-HOAD.” Audio references: Cambridge or Oxford pronunciation pages show the two-part intake of air and the tongue-position for /θ/ spacing before /oʊ/.
Common errors: misplacing voiceless vs voiced sounds, or treating /θ/ as /t/ or /d/, and mispronouncing the /oʊ/ as a short vowel. Correct by ensuring /θ/ is a true dental fricative with the tongue between the teeth and a steady air stream; then glide into /oʊ/ with a smooth lip rounding. Do not reduce /æ/ to /a/ in rapid speech; keep it crisp. Finally, avoid flattening the two-syllable rhythm into one syllable; emphasize the first syllable.
US tends to have /ˈkæθoʊd/ with a clearer /θ/ and a pronounced /oʊ/. UK can be /ˈkæθəʊd/, sometimes with a reduced middle vowel /ə/ and a slightly shorter /oʊ/; rhoticity is less prominent in careful speech but not fully non-rhotic. Australian often aligns with /ˈkæθəʊd/ or /ˈkæθoʊd/, with a flatter vowel quality and vigorous /θ/ articulation. In all accents the first syllable bears primary stress; the ending /d/ is usually a clear, crisp stop.
The combination of /æ/ and the interdental /θ/ makes it tricky for many speakers. Move the tongue to the teeth for /θ/ (not a /t/ or /d/), keep air flowing, then glide into a strong /oʊ/ with rounded lips. The sequence CAT + HODE demands precise timing to avoid blending the syllables. The ending /d/ can be swallowed or de-voiced in rapid speech; maintain a clear final stop for accuracy, especially in technical contexts.
A distinctive feature is the transition from the alveolar /θ/ to the close-mid back rounded /oʊ/ in rapid speech. You’ll notice a brief, soft dental fricative release before the long vowel onset; ensure your tongue contact with the upper teeth is light and precise, and keep the jaw relaxed to allow the /oʊ/ diphthong to unfold naturally.
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- US: Keep a strong /æ/ and a pronounced /θ/. The /r/ is not a factor here, but ensure lip rounding for /oʊ/ leads into the final /d/. - UK: You may hear a slightly reduced /ə/ in the second syllable; maintain the dental fricative fidelity and use a clear /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ depending on regional influence. - AU: Often closer to US vowels but with a slightly flatter vowel quality; keep /θ/ precise and the /oʊ/ rounded, with a firm final /d/. IPA references: US /ˈkæθoʊd/, UK /ˈkæθəʊd/, AU /ˈkæθəʊd/.
Cathode derives from the Greek word cathodos, meaning ‘way down’ or ‘way downwards,’ formed from kata- ‘down’ and hodos ‘way, path’. The term entered English in the early 19th century with the rise of electrochemistry, following the identification of electrodes in voltaic cells. Initially, scientists used cathode and anode to designate the negative and positive poles, respectively, with the definitions refined as devices and theories evolved. In galvanic (voltaic) cells, current flows from the anode to the cathode, while in electrolytic cells, electrons are driven toward the cathode by an external power source. Over time, cathode came to denote not only a physical electrode but also the process of reduction at that electrode. First known use appears in the early 1800s among chemists and inventors discussing electrochemical reactions and battery development, with usage becoming standard in textbooks by mid-century. Today, ‘cathode’ is ubiquitous in chemistry, physics, electronics, and industrial processes such as electroplating and cathodic protection, always signaling the destination electrode for reduction or the terminal for electron reception in the circuit or cell.
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Words that rhyme with "Cathode"
-ode sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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