Electroencephalogram

Pronounced /ˌɛlɪˌtroʊˌɛnˌsɛfəˈlɔɡræm/ (US) or /ˌɛlɪˈtrəʊˌɛnˌsɛfəˈlɒɡræm/ (UK). Break it into syllables: e-LEC-tro-en-CEPH-a-lo-gram. Stress is distributed across the late-penultimate and ultimate segments: secondary stress on tro and cephalo, primary stress on -lɔɡræm. Begin with a clear E-luh- or eh- start, then connect consonants tightly: el-ec-tro-en-ceph-a-lo-gram. The key is the -enceph- cluster, pronounced en-sef, not en-sef-uh. IPA reference helps ensure precision when you’re dictating in a clinical setting.

Common errors include misplacing stress (trying to stress on the ‘tro’ or ‘ceph’ incorrectly), and blending syllables (e-lec-tro-en-ceph-a-lo-gram becoming elec-troen-cephalo-gram). Another frequent slip is mispronouncing -ceph- as -cef- or dropping the -lo- before gram. Correct by chunking into seven syllables, marking primary stress on the -lɔɡræm segment, and practicing the en-ceph-alo segments as distinct units. Use IPA cues to guide mouth positions: ensure /sə/ becomes a soft, quick schwa with a following /l/ rather than a heavy vowel.

In US English, expect /ˌɛlɪˌtroʊˌɛnˌsɛfəˈlɔːɡræm/, with rhotic /ɹ/ influence on 'electro' and a longer final ‘gram’ vowel. UK tends to a shorter final vowel in some speakers and slightly less rhoticity, giving /ˌɛlɪˈtrəʊˌɛnˌsɛfəˈlɒɡræm/. Australian follows mostly US patterns but may exhibit vowel height adjustments and a flatter /ɒ/ in 'gram'. Across all accents, the -encephalo- sequence remains the most challenging, and the primary diphthongs are crucial: /oʊ/ vs /əʊ/ and /ɔː/ vs /ɒ/. Practice with native audio to align vowel quality with your target accent.

The difficulty lies in the long multi-morphemic compound with several consonant clusters and the -encephal- sequence. Speakers often stumble on /ˌɛnˌsɛfəˈlɔ-/: the combination of /n/ + /s/ + /f/ can blur, and the transition from /sə/ to /lɒ/ is subtle. The final -gram also demands crisp /ɡræm/ with a hard g. Tactically, segment into syllables, articulate the central -encephal- as a unit, keep voiceless–voiced transitions clear, and use slow practice with steady tempo to improve overall flow.

The unique feature is the fixed sequence -encephal-: en-cephal- in combination with -ogram. The 'ceph' root is relatively unfamiliar to many English speakers, and the cluster /səf/ before /lɒ/ can mislead. Emphasize the /ˈlɔɡræm/ tail while not letting the earlier syllables dominate. The challenge is balancing clarity in a long word: maintain segment boundaries, rehearse the three primary morphemes (electro- + encephalo- + gram) with precise vowel quality and consonant articulation.