Envoy is a noun referring to a messenger or representative, especially one on a diplomatic mission. It typically denotes a person sent on official duties to convey messages or negotiate, and can imply a formal, sometimes temporary, assignment. The term stresses ceremonial and diplomatic function more than everyday courier roles.
"The ambassador sent an envoy to negotiate the treaty."
"An envoy arrived to deliver the terms of the agreement."
"The governor appointed a trusted envoy to discuss regional concerns."
"During the crisis, a special envoy mediated between the parties."
Envoy comes from Old French envoi, meaning ‘a sending’ or ‘a dispatch.’ The term entered English in the 16th century, via Middle French, from envoi, itself derived from envoyer ‘to send.’ The word reflects a specialized role: a person sent on a mission, especially for diplomacy. Early use targeted diplomatic messengers and official agents, later broadening to denote any representative or emissary. Pronounced with stress on the final syllable in some historical readings, the contemporary pronunciation places primary stress on the first syllable: en-VOY. Over time, the spelling retained the suffix -oy, aligning with other French-derived terms, while pronunciation shifted toward /ɪnˈvɔɪ/ in some contexts; today the standard modern form is /ˈɛnˌvɔɪ/ in US and UK varieties, though rhythm and vowel quality can vary by region.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Envoy" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Envoy"
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Pronounce as EN-voh(y). The primary stress is on the first syllable: /ˈɛnˌvɔɪ/. The second syllable is a diphthong ending in a vowel sound, so it flows quickly: /vɔɪ/. Think of it as two syllables with a clear break between EN and VOY. In careful speech you might hear a light 'y' glide at the end. Audio references: Cambridge dictionary entry and Forvo recordings show the /ˈɛnˌvɔɪ/ pattern.
Common errors include turning /vɔɪ/ into a simpler /vo/ or dropping the final y sound, producing EN-VO. To correct, practice the full diphthong /ɔɪ/ by starting with /ɔ/ then gliding to /ɪ/ or /ɪ/ depending on your accent, ensuring the vowel has a noticeable glide. Keep the /v/ as a voiced labiodental fricative, not a /b/ or /f/. Repeat with minimal pair drills: /ˈɛnˌvɔɪ/ vs /ˈɛnˌvo/ to lock in the diphthong and final glide.
In US/UK/AU the word retains /ˈɛnˌvɔɪ/ with the same stress pattern, but American speakers may show a slightly tighter /ɔɪ/ and faster syllable rate, while UK speakers might articulate the second syllable a touch more distinctly, with a fuller /ɔɪ/ and less rhoticity in rapid speech. Australian English tends to be vowel-shifted, with a bright /ɔɪ/ and crisp /v/; overall the rhoticity is variable but /ˈɛnˌvɔɪ/ remains the core shape.
Envoy poses a diphthong in the second syllable /ɔɪ/, which can be unfamiliar if your first language uses a monophthong in that position. The
Yes: Why is the stress pattern sometimes perceived as 'en-VOY' (second syllable stronger) even though the primary stress is on the first syllable? The answer lies in phonetic nuance: English often places a secondary stress or prominent intonation on the second syllable in fast speech or when contrasted with another word; the primary stress remains on the first syllable, but the second syllable receives perceptual emphasis to convey emphasis or contrast.
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