4 syllables: Hy, po, chon, dry. Stress on chon.
heye-puh-KAHN-dree
/ˌhaɪpəˈkɑndri/
Hypochondry is pronounced heye-puh-KAHN-dree (/ˌhaɪpəˈkɑndri/). It has four syllables (Hy-po-chon-dry), with the stress on "chon". Hypochondry is a noun describing the condition of excessive worry about having a serious illness, often accompanied by preoccupation with bodily symptoms. It can also refer to the tendency to display such concerns as a distinct personality trait. The term is often used in medical or literary contexts to discuss anxiety about health without proportional medical evidence.
nounHypochondry is a noun describing the condition of excessive worry about having a serious illness, often accompanied by preoccupation with bodily symptoms. It can also refer to the tendency to display such concerns as a distinct personality trait. The term is often used in medical or literary contexts to discuss anxiety about health without proportional medical evidence.
"Her constant fuss about every ache labeled her as having hypochondry."
"The psychologist discussed how health anxieties can escalate into hypochondry if left unaddressed."
"Despite the lack of symptoms, he read medical blogs and spiraled into hypochondry."
Pronounce as /ˌhaɪ.poʊˈkɒn.dri/ in US, with primary stress on the third syllable. Break it into hi-PON-dry with a stressed kon-dry. The first syllable is a stressed diphthong /ˈhaɪ/, the second syllable uses a long /oʊ/ in some varieties, and the final /dri/ ends with a voiceless alveolar tap followed by a short /i/. In UK, /ˌhaɪ.pəʊˈkɒn.dri/ shows a reduced second syllable /pəʊ/ and the same final /dri/. Audio reference: consult Cambridge, Oxford audio entries or Forvo for native voices saying “hypochondry.”
Common errors: misplacing stress on the wrong syllable (placing it on hy- or hy-po-), pronouncing /kh/ as a hard /k/ in some accents, and shrinking the /dri/ into /dri/ without a distinct /dr/ cluster. Correction tips: keep primary stress on the third syllable COP-n-dry; pronounce the /k/ as a hard, unaspirated /k/ before /ɒ/; ensure the /dr/ sequence is a clear /dr/ with a light 'r' coloring the vowel before it. Listening to native samples will help you feel the rhythm and stress.
US tends to assimilate the /ə/ in the second syllable less, so you hear /ˌhaɪ.poʊˈkɒn.dri/. UK often has a schwa in the second syllable: /ˌhaɪ.pəˈkɒn.dri/, and rhoticity is less pronounced in careful speech. AU mirrors UK patterns but may flatten vowels slightly and show more vowel rounding in /ɒ/ as in /ˈkɒn.dri/. Overall, the crucial feature is the third-syllable primary stress and rhoticity on the final /ri/ being lighter in non-rhotic varieties. Always compare to native audio in Cambridge/Oxford resources for subtle shifts.
Key challenges include the multi-syllabic build with three vowels in close succession, the secondary stress pattern around the second syllable, and the /kɒn/ cluster joining the /d/ and /ri/ at the end. The /ɒ/ vowel in many accents is a back open vowel that can be tricky, and the final /ri/ can be mispronounced as /riː/ or /ri/ without a crisp /d/ ligature. Practice focusing on the /k/ + /dr/ transition and the 'con' portion to anchor rhythm and accuracy.
Notice the join between /kɒn/ and /dri/: ensure the /n/ does not slip into a nasalized vowel and that /d/ is released quickly before /r/. A common slip is producing /hɪ.poʊˈkɒn.dri/ with an audible /dr/ blend that sounds too heavy; instead, aim for a light, abrupt /d/ transitioning cleanly into /ri/. You’ll hear the lexical rhythm best by saying the word in a slight balladic pace, then speed without losing clarity.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Hypochondry"!
Hypochondry derives from late Latin hypochondria, from Greek hypochondros, meaning “beneath the rib cartilage” (hypo- ‘beneath’ + khondros ‘cartilage’). The term originally referred to a region of the body under the lower ribs believed to influence temperament. In ancient medical theory, fluctuations in the hypochondriac region were thought to cause melancholic dispositions and illnesses, shaping the notion of health anxieties. In medieval and early modern medicine, hypochondria referred to a humoral imbalance and was used to label various nervous or melancholic conditions. By the 18th–19th centuries, English usage shifted toward describing a persistent fear of illness rather to a physical locus, giving rise to the current psychological sense of health anxiety. Colloquial forms like hypochondriac emerged, and the noun hypochondry gained traction in medical and literary contexts before giving way to more precise terms such as health anxiety or illness anxiety disorder. Today, hypochondry retains a somewhat archaic or literary flavor, often signaling an intense preoccupation with health beyond normal concern.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Hypochondry" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Hypochondry" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Hypochondry" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Hypochondry"
-ony sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
