3 syllables: Ep, i, sode. Stress on Ep.
EP-uh-sohd
/ˈɛpəˌsoʊd/
Episode is pronounced EP-uh-sohd (/ˈɛpəˌsoʊd/). It has three syllables (Ep-i-sode), with the stress on "Ep". Episode is a noun referring to a distinct incident or a regular serialized part of a larger narrative. It denotes a single occurrence within a series, often part of a larger sequence like a TV program or a chain of events. The term implies progression through time and a self-contained, recurring segment within a broader story or event.
nounEpisode is a noun referring to a distinct incident or a regular serialized part of a larger narrative. It denotes a single occurrence within a series, often part of a larger sequence like a TV program or a chain of events. The term implies progression through time and a self-contained, recurring segment within a broader story or event.
"The latest episode ends with a cliffhanger that leaves viewers eager for the next installment."
"She shared an embarrassing episode from her childhood and laughed about it later."
"Each episode in the podcast covers a different aspect of the topic."
Say it as EP-ih-sode with the primary stress on the first syllable. IPA US: ˈep.ɪˌsoʊd, UK: ˈep.ɪˌsəʊd, AU: ˈep.ɪˌsoʊd. Start with a sharp /ˈe/ (as in 'bet'), then a quick /ˈɪ/ in the second syllable, and finish with a long /oʊ/ before /d/. The middle /s/ is light; keep it crisp. Audio reference: compare with a standard American broadcast pronunciation.
Common mistakes include stressing the wrong syllable or mis-timing the /ˈep/ cluster, producing /epɪˈsoʊd/ instead of /ˈepɪˌsoʊd/. Some speakers reduce the /ˌsoʊ/ too much, making it /ˈep.ɪ.soʊ/ or mispronouncing the final /d/ as a soft /t/. To correct: keep primary stress on the first syllable, maintain a clear /s/ before /oʊ/, and finish with an audible final /d/.
US typically stresses the first syllable with a clear /ˈep.ɪ/ and a full /ˌsoʊd/ ending. UK often offers a slightly shorter middle vowel, sounding more like /ˈep.ɪˌsəʊd/ with a subtle schwa in the second syllable. Australian tends to align with US for the vowels but may feature more clipped consonants and a slightly flatter intonation. Overall: rhotics differ only marginally; vowel quality and syllable reduction vary.
The difficulty centers on the two-syllable rhythm with a secondary stress in the third syllable and a tense /oʊ/ glide in the final syllable. Learners often misplace stress, producing /ˈep.ɪ.soʊd/ or compressing to /ˈep.ɪˌsoʊd/ without clear onset. The /s/ before the diphthong /oʊ/ also demands crisp articulation to avoid slurring the middle vowels.
A distinctive feature is the lightness of the middle syllable /ɪ/ or /ɪˌ/ depending on the accent, which can cause the second syllable to blur if you’re speaking quickly. Focus on keeping /ɪ/ short but precise, then clearly release into /soʊd/ with the final /d/. This helps avoid a muffled middle and strengthens overall intelligibility.
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Episode comes from the Late Latin officium via the Latinization of the Greek word epos (ἔπος, meaning “a word, speech, or tale”). The sense evolved through Old French as episode and then Middle English, initially referring to a wayfarer or a tale as part of a larger narrative, and later to a segment within serialized literature or broadcasts. The term increasingly specialized in modern English to denote a discrete part of a TV show, podcast, or serialized narrative. First known use in English dates back to the 15th-16th centuries in literary contexts, with broader adoption in media and science to describe a single unit of a sequence. The word’s core notion — a self-contained unit within a sequence — remained stable while its common contexts expanded with the rise of serialized storytelling and episodic broadcasting.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Episode" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Episode" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Episode"
-ode sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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