4 syllables: De, mo, cra, cy. Stress on mo.
dim-AH-kruh-see
/dɪˈmɑkɹəsi/
Democracy is pronounced dim-AH-kruh-see (/dɪˈmɑkɹəsi/). It has four syllables (De-mo-cra-cy), with the stress on "mo". Democracy is a system of government in which power is vested in the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives. It emphasizes equal political rights and participation, accountability, and the rule of law. In everyday use, it refers to the principle of government by the people and the institutions that enable free elections and civil liberties.
nounDemocracy is a system of government in which power is vested in the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives. It emphasizes equal political rights and participation, accountability, and the rule of law. In everyday use, it refers to the principle of government by the people and the institutions that enable free elections and civil liberties.
"Democracy requires robust institutions to protect the rights of minority groups."
"Many democracies encourage public debate and freedom of the press."
"The country transitioned to democracy after years of autocratic rule."
Pronounce it as /dɪˈmɒkrəsi/. The primary stress is on the second syllable: di-MOC-ra-cy. Start with a short, unstressed di- (dih), then a strong MOC sound with the /ɒ/ as in 'lot' and a weak 'ra' followed by /si/ as in 'see'. A natural pronunciation link is di-ˈmɒk-rə-si; the final 'cy' is /si/ rather than /sɪ/. Listening to the rhythm helps: da-da-DOM-uh-see with the emphasis on the second syllable.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (placing emphasis on the first or last), pronouncing the /ɒ/ as a neutral /ə/ or /ɑː/ not matching the British /ɒ/ distinction, and softening the /kr/ cluster into /krə/ or mispronouncing the final /si/ as /siː/ or /zɪ/. Correction: practice the strong second syllable /ˈmɒk/ with a crisp /k/ release, keep the first syllable light (dɪ-), and finish with /rə-si/ where /r/ is smooth and /si/ is a clean, long 'see' sound.
In US English, you’ll hear /dɪˈmɑːkrəsi/ with a broad /ɑː/ in the stressed syllable and rhotic /r/. UK speakers tend to have /dɪˈmɒkrəsi/ with shorter, rounded /ɒ/ and non-rhotic /r/. Australian English often blends the /ɒ/ and /ɜː/ qualities, giving a slightly broader /ɒ/ in the stressed syllable and a more centralized final /i/; some speakers may reduce the final /si/ to /siː/ or /sɪ/ depending on tempo.
The difficulty lies in the three-syllable structure with a stressed second syllable and a consonant cluster /kr/ after the vowel, which can be challenging for non-native speakers. The mid-back /ɒ/ vowel in the stressed syllable, plus the crisp /kr/ release and the final /si/ (not /siː/ or /zi/), require precise tongue positioning and timing. Practice the transition from /m/ to /ɒ/ to /kr/ and then to /ə/ and /si/ smoothly.
For SEO-friendly content, note that people often search 'how to pronounce democracy' or 'pronounce democracy correctly' and expect clear IPA and stress guidance. Emphasize the /ˈmɒk/ syllable, provide US/UK/AU variants, and include quick audio references. Also address common mistakes and provide minimal pairs (e.g., ‘mock’ vs ‘mod’ sounds) to help users differentiate similar sounds in voice search.
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- US: rhotic /r/ after the /ə/ in /rə/; keep the final /si/ as a crisp 'see' without prolongation. - UK: non-rhotic /r/, shorter /ɒ/ vowel in the stressed syllable; maintain a clear /kr/ cluster and a reduced final /si/ to /si/; minimal diphthongization. - AU: often a broader /ɒ/ with a flattened /ə/ in the final syllable; keep /kr/ tight and avoid adding extra vowel between /k/ and /r/.
Democracy derives from the Greek dēmokratía, formed from dēmos ‘people’ and kratos ‘power, rule’. The term appears in classical Greek political discourse, contrasting autocracy and oligarchy with citizen participation. In Latin and early modern European languages, the word adopted a similar meaning: governance by the people. By the 18th century, with the Enlightenment and revolutions shaping political theory, democracy came to denote a system where sovereignty lies with the population, exercised through elections or direct action. The concept evolved from ancient city-states’ assemblies to modern liberal democracies that protect civil liberties, equality before the law, and minority rights. In English, democrac y gained steady usage from the 16th–18th centuries, solidifying during the 19th and 20th centuries as universal suffrage and constitutional governance became standard features in many nations. First known uses in English appear in political writings describing republics or popular rule, with the word becoming common in academic and political discourse across the Anglophone world by the 1800s. Throughout its history, democracy has been tied to debates about majority rule vs. minority protections, the balance of powers, and the media’s role in informing citizens.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Democracy" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Democracy"
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