3 syllables: Ex, od, us. Stress on Ex.
EK-suh-duhs
/ˈɛksədəs/
Exodus is pronounced EK-suh-duhs (/ˈɛksədəs/). It has three syllables (Ex-od-us), with the stress on "Ex". Exodus is a noun referring to a mass departure of people, especially emigrants, from a place. It can also denote a remarkable exit or departure from a situation. The term often carries historical or religious weight, signaling a large-scale migration or escape with strong emotional or symbolic implications.
nounExodus is a noun referring to a mass departure of people, especially emigrants, from a place. It can also denote a remarkable exit or departure from a situation. The term often carries historical or religious weight, signaling a large-scale migration or escape with strong emotional or symbolic implications.
- Misplacing stress on the second syllable (e.g., /ˌiɡˈzɔdəs/). Ensure primary stress stays on EX. - Over-articulating the middle syllable as a strong vowel instead of a reduced /ə/. Keep the middle as a quick, unstressed vowel. - Final consonant overpronounced: avoid crisp, overly enunciated /dəs/ instead of a light /də/ with a quick tap. - In rapid speech, letting the three beats run together; slow it slightly to hear EX-ə-dəs clearly.
How to Pronounce Exodus
"The Exodus from the war-torn city drew international volunteers and aid workers."
"After the collapse of the regime, a sudden exodus of citizens flooded the border crossings."
"The stadium emptied in an exodus as fans left early after the concert was canceled."
Pronounce as /ˈɛk.sə.dəs/ in US and UK English, with primary stress on the first syllable. In Australian English you’ll hear /ˈɛk.sə.dəs/ as well, though the vowel in the first syllable can be subtly more open. Tip: start with a clear ‘EX’-like sound, then lightly articulate the unstressed -o- as a schwa, and finish with a soft ‘dəs’.
Common errors include misplacing stress (stressing the second syllable) and articulating the middle syllable as a full vowel rather than a reduced schwa. Another frequent mistake is ending with a tense ‘dəs’; keep the final syllable relaxed: /dəs/. Focus on the sequence: EX (strong),ə (schwa),dəs (soft, quick).
In US/UK, initial /ˈɛk/ has a clear short-e; rhoticity in US makes the r-coloring absent in the subsequent syllables except in linked speech. Australian tends to preserve a crisp short e and can have slight vowel broadening; the final /əs/ may become /əs/ or /ɒs/ in some dialects?—not common but possible in very broad Australian speech. Overall, stress remains on first syllable across accents.
Two main challenges: the initial /ˈɛk/ requires a precise short-e vowel and clear separation from the schwa in /ə/; and the final unstressed /əs/ can be reduced too much or over-emphasized. The sequence /ˈɛk.sə.dəs/ demands careful digging of the schwa in the middle and a light, quick ending. Practicing with minimal pairs helps tune the transitions between stressed, unstressed, and rapid speech.
In careful, careful speech or careful diction, some speakers may articulate a slightly more pronounced middle vowel, like a reduced /ə/ rather than a full /ɒ/ or /oʊ/. In normal connected speech, the middle syllable is typically a reduced schwa /ə/. You’ll likely hear a clear /ˈeksə.dəs/ in fluent speech, with the middle syllable shortened and unstressed.
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- US: Pronounce with clearer rhoticity in connected speech; ensure the R-less or R-colored vowels influence the surrounding vowels less in this word. - UK: Maintain non-rhoticity, but ensure the first syllable has a crisp short-e; keep final /əs/ relaxed. - AU: Maintain crisp first syllable and a shorter, lighter final /əs/ with a compressed middle /ə/. IPA guides: US /ˈɛk.sə.dəs/; UK /ˈɛk.sə.dɒs/; AU /ˈɛk.sə.dəs/. - General tips: keep jaw relaxed, drop the jaw slightly for the /ɛ/; practise the sequence EX - schwa - dus quickly yet distinctly; avoid converting /ə/ to /o/ or /ɪ/.
Exodus comes from the Greek word εξoδoς (exodos), meaning “a going out” from ex- ‘out’ + hodos ‘way, journey’. The term entered English via Latin exodus and Middle French exode, retaining the sense of a public departure. In classical and religious contexts, Exodus references the biblical departure of the Israelites from Egypt, a usage that shaped its modern sense of large-scale migration. Over time, exodus broadened beyond religious scripture to cover any mass exit or departure of people from a place, institution, or situation. Its pronunciation in English has kept the stress on the first syllable and a short, crisp second syllable, while the initial vowel sound often shifts subtly in different dialects. First known uses appear in classical Greek and Latin texts, with later adoption into English during the Renaissance as humanist scholars translated biblical and historical works, cementing Exodus as a technical term in sociology and history as well as theology.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Exodus" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Exodus"
-tus sounds
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