2 syllables: cu, rie. Stress on rie.
kyuur-EE
/kjʊˈɹi/
curie is pronounced kyuur-EE (/kjʊˈɹi/). It has two syllables (cu-rie), with the stress on "rie". Curie typically refers to a unit of radioactivity (curie, Ci) or to Marie Curie, the pioneering physicist and chemist. In general usage it designates radioactivity measures or epitomizes scientific achievement; when capitalized as a proper name, it honors the famed scientist. The term embodies precision and scientific rigor in either unit or eponymic context.
Curie typically refers to a unit of radioactivity (curie, Ci) or to Marie Curie, the pioneering physicist and chemist. In general usage it designates radioactivity measures or epitomizes scientific achievement; when capitalized as a proper name, it honors the famed scientist. The term embodies precision and scientific rigor in either unit or eponymic context.
"The sample emitted 3,000 dpm, about 0.08 curies."
"Marie Curie won two Nobel Prizes for her groundbreaking work in radioactivity."
"The laboratory was calibrated to measure activity in curies."
Pronounce it as KYOO-ree in US and UK practice, with stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK US: ˈkjʊəri; UK: ˈkjʊəri. In American speech you might hear a very light r in non-rhotic regions; the second syllable starts with an /ɹ/ followed by /iː/ or /i/ depending on speaker. Audio references vary, but you’ll hear a crisp first syllable and a clear crie suffix. Saying the word slowly helps: /ˈkjʊ.əri/.
Common errors: 1) Reducing the second syllable to a schwa or /ɪ/ instead of /iː/ or /i/. 2) Merging /kj/ awkwardly with /ju/ as in ‘kju-’ blend; avoid a heavy onset on the second syllable. 3) Pronouncing as ‘cue-ree’ with a long /uː/ instead of /kjʊ/; keep the 'k' and 'j' blend intact. Correct by practicing the /kj/ onset and keeping the second syllable unstressed but clearly pronounced: /ˈkjʊ.əri/.
In US and UK, first syllable is /ˈkjʊ/ with a short, clipped 'yoo' sound; non-rhotic UK varieties may soften the 'r' in some contexts, but here Curie is typically rhotic in general reference. Australian English tends toward /ˈkjʊəri/ but the rhotacization and vowel quality can vary; Australian speakers often have a broader diphthong in /ɔː/ or /ʊə/ depending on region. Overall, the core is /ˈkjʊ.ri/ or /ˈkjʊ.əri/ with a strong first syllable.
The challenge lies in the /kj/ onset followed by /ʊ/ or /ʊə/ and the quick transition to a clear /ri/ in the second syllable. The sequence /kj/ is a dense consonant cluster for many speakers, especially when followed by a high-front vowel. Balancing the articulation of /ɹ/ in rhotic vs non-rhotic contexts also affects accuracy. Practice by isolating the /kj/ onset, then deliberately shaping the /ʊ/ vowel, and finally attaching a crisp /ri/ with light lip rounding.
Stress is on the first syllable: /ˈkjʊ.əri/. The unique cue is the hard /k/ onset followed by the /j/ glide into the /ʊ/ vowel, creating a compact /kjʊ/ cluster. The second syllable starts with /ə/ or /i/ depending on delivery, but in careful speech you’ll hear a distinct /ri/ with a rounded lips and an audible r when rhotic, or a vowel-like /ɹi/ in non-rhotic contexts. The key is maintaining a tight initial cluster and crisp, separate second syllable.
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The curie is named after Marie Skłodowska-Curie, a Polish-born physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The unit was introduced by the Radiological Society of America in the early 20th century to honor her contributions, particularly her work with radioactive elements and the discovery of polonium and radium. The term curie derives from the French spelling of her surname, Curie, and circulated in scientific literature as a conventional unit to quantify radioactivity. It replaced earlier ad hoc measurements as the field standardized activity units, although the SI system later introduced the becquerel (Bq) as the modern unit of radioactivity. The first known uses appear in scientific papers and conference proceedings around the 1920s to 1930s, coinciding with the formalization of radiometric units. Over time, the curie has become a foundational concept in nuclear physics and radiology, even as the SI unit of activity became more widely adopted in scientific communities worldwide. Historically, one curie is defined as 3.7×10^10 disintegrations per second, a scale tied directly to the activity level of a thousand curies per gram of radium-226 in standard references. This historical context reflects industry practices and the evolution of measurement standards that accompanied advances in radioactive research and medical applications.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "curie" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "curie"
-ury sounds
-rry sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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