2 syllables: Dif, fuse. Stress on fuse.
dif-YOOS
/dɪˈfjus/
Diffuse is pronounced dif-YOOS (/dɪˈfjus/). It has two syllables (Dif-fuse), with the stress on "fuse". Diffuse is an adjective describing something that is spread out, scattered, or widely dispersed, often lacking a clear boundary or focus. It can also describe ideas or signals that reach broadly instead of concentrating in one place. In medical contexts, it denotes processes that extend through a tissue or region rather than being localized.
adjectiveDiffuse is an adjective describing something that is spread out, scattered, or widely dispersed, often lacking a clear boundary or focus. It can also describe ideas or signals that reach broadly instead of concentrating in one place. In medical contexts, it denotes processes that extend through a tissue or region rather than being localized.
- You might overemphasize the first syllable, saying DI-fuse instead of di-FUSE; keep the main energy on the second syllable. - The /fj/ blend can feel awkward: practice the /f/ and /j/ together as a single /fj/ sequence with a light lip rounding to fuse into /uː/. - In rapid speech, you may reduce the /ɪ/ or merge the /uː/ with following words; slow down to maintain /ɪˈfjuːz/ clarity, then gradually speed up.
How to Pronounce Diffuse
"The sunlight became diffuse as it passed through the cloudy sky."
"His attention was diffuse, making it hard to concentrate on a single task."
"The diffuser spread a diffuse scent of lavender across the room."
Diffuse is pronounced di-FYOOSE (US/UK/Aus). The primary stress sits on the second syllable: /dɪˈfjuːz/ for US and UK, /dɪˈfjuːz/ in Australian English. Start with /d/ sound, then a short /ɪ/, followed by the /ˈfj/ blend and the long /uː/ vowel into /z/. Keep the /f/ and /j/ together as /fj/ and avoid tensing the lips. Listen for a smooth glide into the final /z/. Audio reference: you can compare pronunciations on reputable dictionaries or Pronounce for native nuances.
Common errors include saying /ˈdaɪfyuːz/ with excessive diphthongization of the first syllable and treating the /ˈfj/ cluster too separately, making it sound like two syllables (/ˈdɪ-fjuːz/). Another mistake is misplacing the stress, saying di-FUSE or DI-fuse in all contexts. Correct by aiming for /dɪˈfjuːz/ and practicing the /fj/ blend with the lips lightly rounded before the /uː/ vowel. Practice minimal pairs to lock in the second-syllable prominence.
In US, UK, and AU, the core /dɪˈfjuːz/ remains, with rhoticity affecting the following vowel in linked speech. US speakers may have a slightly tighter /ɪ/ before the /ˈfj/ and a faster transition to /uː/. UK English often preserves a crisper /j/ onset in /fj/ and slightly sharper final /z/. Australian English mirrors UK rhythm but may feature a more centralized vowel in rapid speech, with subtle widening of the /uː/ quality. Overall, the primary stress pattern stays on the second syllable in all three, but vowel length and vowel quality subtly shift with regional vowel inventories.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /fj/ between /ɪ/ and /uː/ and the need to maintain secondary stress while gliding from a short vowel to a long, tense vowel. The /f/ + /j/ blend requires precise lip posture—upper teeth on lower lip for /f/ and a light tongue contact for /j/. Also, the long /uː/ must follow without interruption, avoiding a break or ta. Balancing the internal rhythm so the /fj/ feels integrated rather than separate is key.
A unique aspect is distinguishing the noun/adjective pronunciation di-FUSE versus verb di-FUSE in fast speech. As an adjective, the stressed syllable is typically the second (di-FUSE), whereas the verb form may show a more even pitch across syllables in connected speech, and sometimes a lighter /dɪˈfjuz/ in casual usage. Paying attention to word class helps guide stress and rhythm in natural speech.
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- US: /dɪˈfjuːz/ with a strong rhotic quality affecting surrounding vowels in connected speech. - UK: /dɪˈfjuːz/ with crisper consonants, slightly tighter /j/ and a more precise /f/ release. - AU: /dɪˈfjuːz/ similar to UK, but vowels can be a touch more centralized; keep the /uː/ rounded. IPA references help: /dɪˈfjuːz/ across all. Focus on the /fj/ blend.
Diffuse derives from the Latin diffusus, past participle of diffundere, meaning to pour in different directions or to spread out. The root diff- means “apart, in different directions,” from dis- (apart) and fundere (to pour). The English adoption evolved through Middle French diffusion, then diffuse as an adjective in English by the 15th century. Early uses described literal physical spreading, such as light or liquids extending beyond a boundary. By the 19th and 20th centuries, diffuse gained figurative senses in science and philosophy, describing ideas or signals that lack a sharp boundary or focus. The medical sense of diffusion—substances moving and spreading through tissues—emerged from physiological language, reinforcing the sense of gradual, non-local distribution. The word’s cadence and multisyllabic structure helped it migrate into formal and technical registers, including academia, medicine, and engineering. First known English uses appear in late Middle English medical texts, while later English scholarship and scientific writing solidified diffuse as a standard term for spread and dispersion, both literal and metaphorical.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Diffuse" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Diffuse" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Diffuse"
-use sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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