Crisis is a noun describing a time of intense danger, difficulty, or upheaval when decisive action is needed. It typically refers to a turning point event that disrupts normal functioning and tests resilience, resources, or judgment. The term often appears in politics, finance, health, and personal life to indicate high-stakes pressure and urgent decision-making.
"The company faced a financial crisis after the market crash."
"During a medical crisis, quick, coordinated care is essential."
"The country entered a political crisis following the scandal."
"She kept her composure during the crisis and guided the team to safety."
Crisis comes from the Latin crīsis, meaning ‘a decision, a turning point, a judgment,’ which itself derives from the Greek word krisis (κρίσις) meaning ‘a separating, decision, judgment’ from krinein ‘to separate, decide.’ In Late Latin, crīsis referred to a critical moment requiring a decision, and in English it came to mean a period of intense danger or difficulty. The transition into broader usage around the 17th–18th centuries solidified the sense of a pivotal, high-stakes moment. The word retained a sense of examination of options under pressure, with modern usage expanding to political, economic, medical, and personal contexts where decisive action is needed. The plural form crises is irregular, not crises, to reflect standard English noun pluralization patterns that accommodate the final -is to -es shift. First known use in English dates from before the 17th century, appearing in translations of classical texts and in early political writing, echoing its Greek and Latin roots in describing pivotal moments of judgment.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Crisis" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Crisis" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Crisis"
-sis sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Crisis is pronounced /ˈkraɪ.sɪs/. The first syllable carries the primary stress: CRI-. Start with a strong /k/ release, then the diphthong /raɪ/ as in 'rice', followed by a short /sɪs/ for the second syllable. Tip: keep the /ɪ/ lax and quick, and avoid elongating the second syllable. Think: CRY-sis, with a crisp final /s/.
Common errors are misplacing stress (say-CRIS-iss), pronouncing the first syllable as a pure /kriz/ without the /aɪ/ diphthong, or adding an extra vowel like /-iː/ in the second syllable. To correct: ensure the /ˈkraɪ/ starts with an aspirated /k/ and a clear /aɪ/ diphthong, then follow with a quick /sɪs/. Practice by isolating the crest /ˈkraɪ/ and snapping into /sɪs/ without hesitation.
In US, UK, and AU, the /ˈkraɪ/ diphthong and rhoticity don’t change the vowel; differences lie in vowel quality and linking. US and UK share the /ˈkraɪ/ onset, but non-rhotic UK may subtly merge /ˈkraɪ.sɪs/ with a touch of non-rhoticity in rapid speech. AU often mirrors US vowel pronunciation but may exhibit slightly flatter vowels and stronger final consonant clarity. Overall, the main variation is rhoticity and vowel length; the core stress remains on the first syllable.
It’s challenging because of the /aɪ/ diphthong in the first syllable and the short, unreleased /s/ in the final syllable. The sequence /raɪs/ can blur in fast speech, and beginners may mispronounce it as /krɪs/ or with a long /iː/ in the second syllable. Keeping the diphthong crisp and avoiding vowel intrusion is key. Practice isolating the onset /ˈkraɪ/ before merging into /sɪs/.
Crisis uniquely pairs an initial stressed diphthong /ˈkraɪ/ with a short, high-front vowel /ɪ/ in the second syllable, yielding /ˈkraɪ.sɪs/. The irregular plural crises adds to the pronunciation discussion, but the singular form keeps a consistent /-ɪs/ ending. The combination of a strong diphthong and a brief, sibilant finale makes the word both recognizable and a bit tricky for non-native speakers.
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