4 syllables: ep, i, dem, ic. Stress on dem.
/ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk/
Say it backEpidemic refers to a disease or condition that spreads rapidly and widely within a population, often affecting a large number of people in a short period. It can describe a sudden surge in cases or a health issue that becomes common within a community, region, or era. The term is used in medical, public health, and news contexts to denote rapid, widespread impact rather than a single, isolated incident.
"The city faced an epidemic of influenza that overwhelmed hospitals."
"Public health officials declared an epidemic in the region after a sharp rise in cases."
"Vaccination campaigns were launched to curb the epidemic's spread."
You say eh-pih-DEM-ik, with primary stress on the third syllable: /ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk/. Start with a short, unstressed 'eh' and 'pih' before the stressed 'DEM' syllable, then end with 'ik' as a light, unstressed ending. In careful speech you’ll hear the three-syllable rhythm clearly. Audio references: dictionaries typically provide /ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk/.
Two frequent errors are placing the stress on the first syllable (ep-i-DEM-ic rather than e-pi-DEM-ic) and running the middle syllable together with the first, producing a flat /ˈɛpɪˌdɛmɪk/ instead of a clear /ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk/. Correction: practice the middle syllable as the peak with slower, separate enunciation, and keep the initial unstressed syllables lighter. Use minimal pairs and stress-timed practice to reinforce the rhythm.
In US, UK, and AU, the word maintains the three-syllable pattern with the same primary stress on the third syllable (DEM). The vowels, particularly the first 'e' and the 'e' in 'dem,' are slightly shortened in US and AU speech and can be more centralized in some UK accents. All share /ˌɛpɪˈdɛmɪk/ with minor vowel quality differences influenced by rhoticity and speaker idiolect.
Difficulties arise from the three-syllable length, the schwa-like first vowel in many accents, and the middle syllable’s strong stress as a contrast to the initial weak syllable. Speech motor planning must coordinate three distinct vowel sounds in close succession and maintain a crisp, stressed /ˈdɛm/ syllable inside the word. Slow practice helps, as does isolating the 'DEM' cluster and practicing it with a precise, staccato release.
The word carries a secondary, softer pre-stress on the first syllable, with the main beat centered on DEM. The 'epi-' prefix reduces to a quick, light start, while the 'dem' is the audible nucleus. Pay attention to the contrast between the unstressed 'ep-i' and the emphasized 'DEM' to avoid blending the syllables into a single, continuous stream.
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Epidemic comes from the Greek word epidemios, meaning 'on the people' or 'upon the people,' which itself is derived from epi- (upon) + demos (the people). The term entered English via Late Latin epidemia and Old French, with usage dating back to early modern medical literature. In classic medical texts, epidemics described diseases that spread through communities, as opposed to sporadic cases or local outbreaks. The core idea evolved from public health discourse recognizing patterns of transmission and population-level impact. Over centuries, the word has broadened to describe any rapid, wide-reaching phenomenon beyond strictly infectious diseases, such as social or economic crises framed as “epidemics.” Modern epidemiology uses the term to categorize events by scale and rate of spread, distinguishing epidemics from pandemics (global spread). First known uses in English appear in medical treatises from the 17th to 18th centuries, often referencing outbreaks of fever, plague, or smallpox; the concept expanded with advances in epidemiology, biostatistics, and disease surveillance to become a standard descriptor in public health. The shifting acceptability of the term also reflects evolving understandings of transmission, vectors, and population health dynamics. Pronounced eh-puh-DEM-ik, the stress pattern mirrors the ancient Greek roots, with the internal rhythm reinforced by medical discourse that emphasizes the middle syllable as the nucleus of the term.
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Words that rhyme with "epidemic"
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