2 syllables: Eth, ics. Stress on Eth.
ETH-iks
/ˈɛθɪks/
Ethics is pronounced ETH-iks (/ˈɛθɪks/). It has two syllables (Eth-ics), with the stress on "Eth". Ethics is a branch of philosophy dealing with what constitutes right and wrong behavior, often guiding personal and professional conduct. It encompasses moral principles and systems that judge actions, motives, and consequences. In everyday use, it refers to the moral code or standards that govern a group's actions and decisions.
nounEthics is a branch of philosophy dealing with what constitutes right and wrong behavior, often guiding personal and professional conduct. It encompasses moral principles and systems that judge actions, motives, and consequences. In everyday use, it refers to the moral code or standards that govern a group's actions and decisions.
- Interdental fricative cue: many learners substitute /θ/ with /f/ or /s/. Practice by placing the tongue gently between the upper and lower teeth and forcing air through to create a voiceless breathy sound. - Final cluster clarity: /ks/ should be a single, crisp release; avoid inserting a vowel before /s/. Use a quick glide from /k/ to /s/ without extra space. - Vowel quality issue: keep /ɪ/ short, not a lax or long vowel; hold just enough for the following /ks/.
How to Pronounce Ethics
"- Universities include ethics courses to explore questions of fairness and responsibility."
"- The company established an ethics committee to ensure compliance and integrity."
"- Debates about ethics in technology focus on privacy, bias, and accountability."
Ethics is pronounced /ˈɛθɪks/ in US and UK. The primary stress is on the first syllable. Start with /ɛ/ as in bed, then /θ/ as in thin, followed by /ɪ/ like kit, and finish with /ks/ as in socks. The sequence is two syllables, with a crisp, voiceless final cluster. You can think: E-thics, with a short, clipped ending.
Common errors include turning /θ/ into /s/ or /t/ (saying e-sicks) and misplacing the /ɪ/ as a long vowel. Some speakers blend the /t/ and /ɪ/ into a longer syllable or mispronounce /ks/ as /s/. Correction: keep the /θ/ interdental fricative distinct, produce a short /ɪ/ before the /k/ and release into the /s/ cluster clearly: /ˈɛθɪks/.
In US/UK, /ˈɛθɪks/ is consistent, with minor vowel timing differences; rhotic vs nonrhotic is not relevant here since /r/ isn’t present. Australian pronunciation also uses /ˈɛθɪks/ but with slightly flatter vowels and a more clipped final /s/. Differences are mainly in vowel length and intonation rather than the core phonemes.
The challenge lies in the initial interdental /θ/ as in thin, which many speakers substitute with /f/, /t/, or /s/. The short /ɪ/ before the final /ks/ must be quick and light to avoid a mis-timed /k/ or a drawn-out vowel. Mastery requires precise tongue placement at the interdental ridge and a clean, crisp /ks/ release.
Correct pronunciation is /ˈɛθɪks/, so it’s a two-syllable word with the interdental /θ/ after the initial /ɛ/ and a short /ɪ/ before the /ks/ cluster. Avoid doubling the consonants; keep a light, quick /t/ without an extra syllable. Think ‘ETH-iks’ with a clear, sharp final /ks/.
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- US:强调 rhotics subtly affecting intonation but not the word itself; vowels tend to be slightly tenser. - UK: shorter, clipped vowels with nonrhotic Schwa tendencies in surrounding words; keep /θ/ precise and avoid vocalization. - AU: tends to be flatter, with broader vowels; maintain clear interdental /θ/ and crisper /ks/ without trailing vowel. IPA guidance: /ˈɛθɪks/ across accents; focus on interdental placement and final affricate.
Ethics derives from the Greek word ethos, meaning the character, custom, or habitual practice of a people. The term entered Latin as ethica, and then Old French as ethics before entering English in the 15th century. Its sense broadened from a study of character and customary behavior to a formal field of philosophy concerned with normative theories of right and wrong, justification of moral judgments, and the analysis of ethical dilemmas. In early uses, ethics referred to personal morality and virtue; by the 18th and 19th centuries, it increasingly designated a systematic branch of philosophy, paralleling the rise of rational inquiry into moral philosophy. Today, ethics encompasses any framework that governs conduct within professional domains (medical ethics, business ethics, legal ethics) and everyday moral decision-making. First known use in English is attested in the late 13th century through Latinized forms, but the philosophical use solidified in early modern Europe as scholars distinguished ethics from other branches like aesthetics and logic. The word has remained stable in meaning, though modern discussions expand to applied ethics in technology, environment, and public policy, reflecting evolving social norms and professional codes of conduct.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Ethics" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Ethics" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Ethics"
-ics sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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