2 syllables: di, odes. Stress on di.
DEYE-ohdz
/ˈdaɪˌoʊdz/
diodes is pronounced DEYE-ohdz (/ˈdaɪˌoʊdz/). It has two syllables (di-odes), with the stress on "di". Diodes are semiconductor devices that allow current to flow primarily in one direction, acting as rectifiers in circuits. They exploit the diode junction to permit conduction when forward-biased and block current when reverse-biased. In electronics, diodes enable functions like rectification, signal demodulation, and power conversion, making them fundamental components in nearly all electronic systems.
Diodes are semiconductor devices that allow current to flow primarily in one direction, acting as rectifiers in circuits. They exploit the diode junction to permit conduction when forward-biased and block current when reverse-biased. In electronics, diodes enable functions like rectification, signal demodulation, and power conversion, making them fundamental components in nearly all electronic systems.
"The circuit uses a silicon diode to convert AC to pulsating DC."
"A Schottky diode minimizes forward voltage drop for high-efficiency power supplies."
"The LEDs in that array are a type of diode that emits light when forward-biased."
Pronounce as /ˈdaɪ.oʊdz/ in US and /ˈdaɪ.əʊdz/ in UK/AU. The first syllable rhymes with 'bye' and carries primary stress; the second syllable is a short, unstressed 'ohdz' sound starting with /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ followed by /dz/. Mouth: start with a bright diphthong /aɪ/, then an /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ glide, finish with /dz/ for a voiced affricate. You’ll hear a crisp /d/ release before /oʊdz/.
Common errors: replacing /daɪ/ with /di/ or /daɪi/ leading to an overly clipped first syllable, and mispronouncing /oʊ/ as /ɒ/ or /ʌ/ in the second syllable, or failing to voice the final /dz/ making it sound like /d/ or /z/ alone. Correct by emphasizing the diphthong /aɪ/ in the first syllable, using a clean /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ in the second, and ending with the voiced affricate /dz/. Practice by isolating the final /dz/ and ensuring vocal fold vibration.
In US: /ˈdaɪ.oʊdz/, with a strong /oʊ/ and clear /dz/. In UK/AU: /ˈdaɪ.əʊdz/, the middle vowel reduces in some dialects to a lighter /ə/ or /ɪə/ transition; the final /dz/ remains voiced. Rhoticity doesn’t change the word, but non-rhotic speakers may have a slightly weaker linking between syllables. Overall, the key variation is the second syllable vowel: /oʊ/ vs /əʊ/ or /əʊ/.
The difficulty lies in the transition between the vowel sounds /aɪ/ and /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ and ensuring the final /dz/ is voiced rather than devoiced in rapid speech. Coordination of the tongue for /d/ + /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ plus the affricate /dz/ can blur in fast talk, especially when embedded in technical phrases (e.g., 'diodes in the circuit'). Focusing on clean, audible /d/ release and stable diphthongs helps clarity.
The word combines a prominent first syllable with a mid vowel and a voiced affricate cluster at the end. The /ɪ/ vowel is not present; instead, you get /aɪ/ in the first syllable and the /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ glide leading into /dz/. This triad—stress on syllable one, clear diphthong in the second, and the /dz/ ending—distinguishes it from other similar plural forms ending in -odes. Practice—guard the /z/ release and keep the second syllable compact.
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The word diode originates from the Greek prefix dia- meaning through or across, combined with -ode from the Greek hodos meaning way or path, indicating a device that provides a path for current in one direction. The first practical diodes were vacuum tube devices in the early 20th century, but the term was later adopted for solid-state devices. The modern silicon diode emerged from research into p-n junctions in the 1950s, with early silicon diodes improving rectification efficiency over vacuum tube counterparts. The concept of a unidirectional current path traces back to the rectifying properties observed in crystal diodes, while the naming persisted as the technology evolved to semiconductor materials. The evolution of ‘diode’ as a class label spread through electrical engineering literature, becoming a standard term in textbooks and industry. First known use in the sense of a unidirectional electrical device appeared in the early 1900s in experimental apparatus using thermionic valves, but the usage in solid-state electronics solidified with Bell Labs’ and other research groups’ vacuum-to-solid-state transitions in mid-20th century. Today, ‘diode’ universally designates a two-terminal, non-reversible electrical component with a nonlinear current-voltage relationship, often distinguished into rectifier, signal, and Zener variants depending on application.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "diodes" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "diodes"
-des sounds
-ads sounds
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