4 syllables: Co, pro, pha, gy. Stress on pro.
koh-PROH-fag-ee
/koʊˈprofæɡi/
Coprophagy is pronounced koh-PROH-fag-ee (/koʊˈprofæɡi/). It has four syllables (Co-pro-pha-gy), with the stress on "pro". Coprophagy is the scientific term for the ingestion of feces, typically studied in medical, veterinary, or behavioral contexts. It refers to the act itself and can be observed as a behavioral trait in some animals or, rarely, in humans. The term combines Greek roots for feces and eating, used in clinical discussion and research contexts.
nounCoprophagy is the scientific term for the ingestion of feces, typically studied in medical, veterinary, or behavioral contexts. It refers to the act itself and can be observed as a behavioral trait in some animals or, rarely, in humans. The term combines Greek roots for feces and eating, used in clinical discussion and research contexts.
"The veterinarian noted coprophagy in the dog as a potential sign of nutritional deficiency."
"In some animals, coprophagy serves to recycle nutrients and vitamins produced by gut bacteria."
"The researcher documented coprophagy behaviors and discussed possible underlying causes such as anxiety or dietary imbalance."
Pronounce as ko-PRO-foh-jee, with primary stress on the second syllable. In IPA: US kɔːˈfroʊdʒi or koʊˈfroʊɡi; UK kəʊˈfrɒdʒi; AU kəʊˈfrɒdʒi. Focus on the middle syllable /ˈfroʊ/ (or /ˈfrɒ/ in some accents) and end with /dʒi/. Keep the lips rounded slightly for 'o' in the second syllable and finish with a soft 'g' /dʒ/.
Common errors: over-stressing the first syllable (co-), misplacing stress on the third syllable, and turning the /ɡ/ into a hard /g/ or skipping the palatal affricate /dʒ/. Correct by emphasizing the second syllable with a clear, slightly longer vowel, using /dʒ/ as in 'age' after the 'o', and ensuring the final /i/ is a clean, high-front vowel. Practice pausing between syllables to keep rhythm intact.
US: /kɔːˈfroʊɡi/ with a rounded mid-back vowel in the first syllable and a clear /ɔː/; UK: /kəˈfrɒdʒi/ with shorter /ə/ and /ɒ/; AU: /kəʊˈfrɒdʒi/ similar to UK but with broader vowel quality and a more pronounced non-rhoticity. The middle syllable vowel quality shifts, and the final /i/ tends toward a close front unrounded vowel. Rhoticity is less prominent in UK/AU variants.
It’s challenging because of its multi-syllabic structure and the palatal /dʒ/ cluster at the third syllable, which can blur with /g/ or /j/ sounds. The combination of mid vowels and the final /i/ can tempt vowel shifts. Practice segmenting into co-pro-phy-gy, then reassemble slowly, paying attention to the /dʒ/ sound and the secondary stress on the second syllable.
A unique facet is the transition between the second syllable's vowel and the /dʒ/ in the third, where English speakers often smooth into a blended /ˈfroʊdʒi/ or /ˈfrɒdʒi/. The key is crisp separation: co-/pro-/phagy, with the /dʒ/ kept distinct and the final /i/ clearly produced as a front vowel. Use slow practice to lock this pattern.
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Coprophagy comes from the Greekkopros, meaning feces, and phagein, meaning to eat. The term arose in scientific vocabularies to describe a natural behavior observed in some species and discussed in veterinary and zoological literature. Its first use in English traces to the 19th century, aligning with other taxonomy-based terms like neophagy (new eating) and xylophagy (wood eating). Over time, coprophagy has retained its literal meaning but also appears in clinical discourse to address pathological or nutritionally driven behavior. In medical and zoological texts, the word is used without euphemism, emphasizing precise description over colloquial nuance. The word’s structure—cope/ro/phagy—highlights the combination of a root related to feces (kopros) and the eating action (phagein), with -agy forming a noun indicating a behavior or process. The evolution of the term mirrors the broader expansion of Greek-derived medical vocabulary in English, with periodic debates about its clinical significance, prevalence across species, and parallels to human behavioral studies about appetite and hygiene.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Coprophagy" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Coprophagy"
-phy sounds
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