4 syllables: gen, er, al, ize. Stress on gen.
JEN-uh-ruh-leyez
/ˈdʒɛnəɹəlˌaɪz/
generalize is pronounced JEN-uh-ruh-leyez (/ˈdʒɛnəɹəlˌaɪz/). It has four syllables (gen-er-al-ize), with the stress on "gen". Generalize means to make something more general or universal by applying a specific case to broader contexts. It also refers to forming general conclusions from particular examples. The term is commonly used in logic, science, and everyday discussion when moving from specifics to overarching patterns or rules. It can imply simplification or abstraction, sometimes risking overgeneralization.
Generalize means to make something more general or universal by applying a specific case to broader contexts. It also refers to forming general conclusions from particular examples. The term is commonly used in logic, science, and everyday discussion when moving from specifics to overarching patterns or rules. It can imply simplification or abstraction, sometimes risking overgeneralization.
"Researchers often generalize findings from a small sample to a larger population."
"In everyday speech, people sometimes generalize about a group based on a few individuals."
"The theory generalizes well across related phenomena but may not fit every exception."
US/UK/AU pronunciation is /dʒɛnərəlaɪz/ or /dʒɛnərəlˌaɪz/. The primary stress is on the third syllable: gen-ER-a-lize, with the final -ize sounding as /aɪz/. Start with a light, unreleased initial /dʒ/ as in judge, then /ɛ/ for the first vowel, a schwa-like middle /ə/ before /l/, and finish with /aɪz/. In careful speech you’ll hear: /dʒɛnərəlaɪz/. For the British variant spelling generalise is pronounced the same, with /dʒɛnərəlaɪz/.
Common errors include saying /dʒɛnəɹeɪz/ with a long /eɪ/ in the second syllable, or devoicing the final /z/ to /s/. Another pitfall is weakening the middle /ə/ too much, making it sound like /dʒɛnərlaɪz/. Correct it by maintaining a clear /ə/ before the /l/ and ensuring the final /z/ is voiced. Practice the sequence /dʒ/ + /ɛ/ + /n/ + /ə/ + /r/ + /ə/ + /l/ + /aɪ/ + /z/ with a steady pace, stopping just before the /l/ to feel the tongue position.
All three accents share /dʒɛnəˈɹaɪz/ with minor vowel differences: US tends to a slightly tense /ɛ/ in the first syllable and a clearer /ə/ before /l/; UK often has a more centralized /ə/ before /l/ and crisp /ɹ/ depending on non-rhoticity; AU mirrors US vowel quality but may feature a even more relaxed /ə/ and slightly broader /aɪ/ in the final syllable. The main rhotic distinction is less about /r/ here than about the vowel length in the first syllable when stressed; overall, the rhythm remains: 2nd–3rd syllables carry the main stress.
Two challenges: the sequence of consonants /dʒ/ + /n/ + /r/ requires precise tongue positions without crowding; and the /ə/ syllable before /l/ can be easily reduced too much, muting the /l/ and blending the sounds. Additionally, the final /aɪz/ must be clearly voiced, not devoiced or merged with /ɪz/. Practice by isolating the clusters: /dʒɛn/ then /ə/ + /r/ + /ə/ + /l/ and finally /aɪz/; maintain voicing on /z/ and ensure a brief pause between syllables to stabilize rhythm.
A key nuance is the shift of primary stress between pronunciations: in careful enunciation, you actively mark the stress on the second-to-last syllable: gen–ER–a–lize, which helps with clarity in formal contexts. The act of generalizing information from specifics is central in sciences and logic, but spoken usage often compresses the middle syllable to a quick /ə/. Remember to keep the final /z/ voiced and crisp so it doesn’t become /s/.
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Generalize derives from the late 16th century English general + -ize. General originates from Latin generalis ‘of a whole, of the whole class,’ from gener- ‘genus, kind’ and -alis ‘belonging to.’ The suffix -ize, from Greek -izō, common in English to form verbs meaning ‘to render or become.’ The word entered English through Latin via French, with early senses tied to making something universal or applying a general rule. By the 17th–18th centuries, scholars used generalize to describe reasoning from particular cases to broad conclusions, paralleling the rise of inductive reasoning in science and philosophy. Over time, it broadened into everyday language, including data analysis, rhetoric, and education, where one moves from specifics to overarching patterns or categories. The spelling generalize aligns with American English simplifications; British English often uses generalise as a variant, with the verb meaning retained in both forms.
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Words that rhyme with "generalize"
-ize sounds
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