2 syllables: ed, dy. Stress on ed.
ED-ee
/ˈɛdi/
eddy is pronounced ED-ee (/ˈɛdi/). It has two syllables (ed-dy), with the stress on "ed". Eddy is a noun or verb referring to a circular or spiral movement of water, air, or debris that moves contrary to the direction of a current. It can describe a whirlpool, a swirling current in a stream, or any small, localized circular motion. In figurative use, it can denote a swirling or confounding influence around a topic or situation.
Eddy is a noun or verb referring to a circular or spiral movement of water, air, or debris that moves contrary to the direction of a current. It can describe a whirlpool, a swirling current in a stream, or any small, localized circular motion. In figurative use, it can denote a swirling or confounding influence around a topic or situation.
"The boat was pulled off course by an eddy forming behind the rock."
"Leaves drifted in an eddy as the wind shifted."
"There was an eddy of debate circling the issue after the spokesperson spoke."
Pronounce it as two syllables with primary stress on the first: /ˈɛd.i/ for UK/US accents and /ˈɛd.i/ in Australian. The initial vowel is a short e as in 'bed,' followed by a light 'ee' as in 'see.' Ensure the second syllable is unstressed and briefly reduced. You might hear a longer release in careful speech, but natural speech compresses the second syllable.
Common errors: 1) Reducing the first syllable too much, producing /ˌiːdi/ or /ˈiːdi/. 2) Using a long 'e' in the first syllable, giving /ˈiːdi/. 3) Missing the final 'y' sound and truncating to /ˈɛd/ or /ˈɛdi/; keep the final light /-i/ vowel. Correct by practicing /ˈɛd.i/ with a crisp stop on /d/ and a short second syllable. Record and compare to reference words like 'eddy' pronounced by native speakers.
US/UK/AU share the same /ˈɛd.i/ skeleton. The key variation is rhoticity and vowel quality: US rhotics may have a slightly stronger r-colored following vowel in connected speech, while UK and Australian speakers maintain shorter, clipped vowels. The initial /ɛ/ remains consistent; the second syllable is a short, unstressed /i/. In careful RP, some speakers may centralize or reduce the final vowel more.
The challenge is achieving two even syllables with a crisp /d/ stop and a very short second vowel. The combination /d/ + a reduced /i/ requires precise tongue position: the tongue tip taps the alveolar ridge for /d/ while the second vowel stays lax and brief. Avoid prolonging the second syllable or inserting extra vowel length. Mouth position must stay relaxed to prevent a drawn-out /i/.
No silent letters; the word is pronounced with two clearly voiced syllables and primary stress on the first: /ˈɛd.i/. The second syllable is unstressed and shorter. The trick is achieving a quick, light /i/ after the /d/ without turning the second vowel into a separate, noticeable syllable.
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US: Slightly stronger rhotic resonance after the /i/ in connected speech; UK: crisper, shorter vowels and less rhotic accent in careful speech; AU: quick, clipped vowels with a flat /æ/ or /ɛ/ depending on regional variation. IPA anchors: US /ˈɜːrdi/ in some dialectal spellings? No: standard US /ˈɛd.i/. Focus on keeping the second syllable short in all accents. Use a light tongue position and avoid lip rounding on the second syllable.
Eddy comes from the Old English word eddian which meant to cause to spin, with related forms in Germanic languages. The modern noun eddy derives from the sense of a small, circular current in water, likely influenced by the Middle English eddi and edding, terms used to describe swirling water around objects. The semantic arc traces the term from a concrete hydrodynamic phenomenon to a broader sense of any rotating or circular motion, including air or figurative uses. The earliest recorded uses in English literature appear in the late medieval period, where sailors described eddies in rivers and coastal waters; by the 17th century, the word was established in scientific and nautical vocabularies. Through the centuries, eddy retained its core image of a localized, non-linear motion that counteracts the primary flow, while extending metaphorically to crowds, opinions, and debates moving in circles or creating countercurrents.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "eddy" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "eddy" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "eddy"
-ady sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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