3 syllables: er, go, dic. Stress on go.
ur-GOH-dik
/ɚˈɡoʊdɪk/
ergodic is pronounced ur-GOH-dik (/ɚˈɡoʊdɪk/). It has three syllables (er-go-dic), with the stress on "go". Ergodic is an adjective used mainly in physics and mathematics to describe systems or processes that require non-trivial, often energy-consuming, effort to traverse all accessible states. In practice, it denotes that a process explores its state space so thoroughly that time averages equal space averages under certain conditions. The term contrasts with stochastic or ergodic-independent behavior, and is often encountered in discussions of dynamical systems and thermodynamics.
Ergodic is an adjective used mainly in physics and mathematics to describe systems or processes that require non-trivial, often energy-consuming, effort to traverse all accessible states. In practice, it denotes that a process explores its state space so thoroughly that time averages equal space averages under certain conditions. The term contrasts with stochastic or ergodic-independent behavior, and is often encountered in discussions of dynamical systems and thermodynamics.
"The ergodic hypothesis posits that long-run time averages converge to ensemble averages in a given system."
"An ergodic process will, given enough time, visit every region of its state space."
"Researchers studied ergodic models to determine how information dissipates in chaotic systems."
Pronounce as erg-OD-ic with primary stress on the second syllable: /ɚˈɡɒdɪk/. Start with a schwa in the first syllable, then a clear /ɡɒ/ as in
Common mistakes: misplacing the stress (treating it as /ˈɛrɡədɪk/ or /ˈɜːrɡəʊdɪk/), omitting the second syllable vowel, or not keeping the /ɡ/ as a hard stop between /ɡ/ and /ɒ/. Correction: place primary stress on the second syllable /ˈɡɒ/ after the initial unstressed schwa, enunciate the /ɡ/ with a firm stop, and clearly pronounce /dɪk/ at the end. Use a short, crisp /ɒ/ before /dɪk/ rather than a broad /oʊ/ diphthong.
US, UK, and AU share /ɚˈɡɒdɪk/ broadly, but the initial vowel and rhoticity give subtle shifts: US typically features a rhotacized initial schwa and tighter /ɡ/ release, UK often emphasizes a slightly more open /ɒ/ and non-rhoticity in careful speech, AU tends to a more centralized /ɜː/ in the first syllable with a flatter overall vowel quality. Consistency in the second syllable /dɪk/ remains.
The difficulty lies in the cluster /ɡd/ between the second and third syllables and the near-schwa onset of the second syllable. Coordinating the transition from /ɡ/ to /d/ without an intrusive vowel, plus maintaining a strong stress on the second syllable, challenges both non-native speakers and even some advanced learners. A focused /ɡ/ release and crisp /dɪk/ ending help.
A unique aspect is the strong, non-initial stress on the second syllable and the need for precise vowel quality in /ɒ/ vs. /ɒː/ in some dialects. Learners often expect a straightforward three-syllable word but must manage a mid-word pause-like separation before the /dɪk/ ending. Paying attention to the /ɡ/ release and short /ɒ/ rather than a long/diphthongal V sound makes a big difference.
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US: rhotic schwa in first syllable with a tight /ɡ/ release; UK: slightly more open /ɒ/ and non-rhotic feel in careful speech; AU: vowel qualities lean toward centralized /ɜː/ in the first syllable and a flatter overall vowel space. IPA anchors: US /ɚˈɡɒdɪk/, UK /ˌɜːˈɡɒdɪk/, AU /ˌɜːˈɡɒdɪk/. Focus on rhoticity differences and vowel height in the second syllable.
Ergodic derives from the Greek ergon meaning ‘work’ and the suffix -oid meaning ‘resembling’ or ‘like’. The term was coined in the mid-19th century within the context of statistical mechanics and dynamical systems, where it described a system that, given sufficient time, would traverse all accessible microstates. The concept gained prominence in the 1930s and 1940s through the work of Boltzmann-inspired formulations and later formalized in ergodic theory as a branch of mathematics seeking to connect time averages with ensemble (space) averages. The first known uses appear in academic literature concerning the foundations of statistical mechanics, evolving to a standard technical term in mathematics, physics, and even information theory. In modern usage, ergodicity is a rigorous property that underpins the justification for replacing long-run time measurements with probabilistic state-space analyses. Etymology reflects both its origin in “work” and the mathematical notion of resemblance, with the English adoption aligning the term with analogous properties such as stationarity and mixing, albeit in conditions where the equality of averages holds under certain dynamical rules.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "ergodic" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "ergodic"
-tic sounds
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