Individual (adjective) describes something relating to a single person or thing, not collective or shared. It emphasizes uniqueness or separateness, often in contrast to group or general characteristics. In usage, it highlights a particular instance or scope rather than a universal or common trait.
"Each individual case will be reviewed separately."
"She values individual creativity over mass production."
"The individual report stood out for its depth and detail."
"They offer customized solutions for each individual client."
Individual derives from the late Latin individualis, meaning ‘undivided, indivisible, or a single unit,’ from the Latin prefix in- (not) + dividere (to divide). The term entered English in the 15th century in a legal context to denote a single person as a separate entity. Over time, it broadened to describe single units in various domains (psychology, biology, sociology) and as an adjective meaning ‘relating to a single person’ or ‘single, separate in nature.’ The root dividere traces to Indo-European origins, with cognates across Romance languages reflecting the idea of division and unity. The word’s evolution mirrors a linguistic shift from concrete, physical indivisibility to abstract properties of personhood, attributes, and singularity in description. First known uses appear in legal and philosophical writings of the Renaissance as scholars discussed individual rights and individual differences among people; later, scientific disciplines adopted the term to characterize unitary, non-group phenomena. In contemporary usage, “individual” often underlines autonomy, personal identity, or case-by-case specificity, and remains common across academic, professional, and everyday language.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Individual" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Individual"
-nal sounds
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Pronounce as in-DIV-i-du-al, with primary stress on the second syllable: /ˌɪn.dɪˈvɪd.ju.əl/ in US; /ˌɪn.dɪˈvɪd.juː.əl/ in UK; AU follows /ˌɪn.dɪˈvɪd.ju.əl/. Start with /ˌɪn/ (short i as in kit), move to /dɪˈvɪd/ (stress on VID), then /lju/ or /dju/ blending to /-əl/. Mouth: brief /ɪ/ in first syllable, tongue high-middle for /ɪ/, the /v/ is labiodental, the /d/ is alveolar, the /j/ on /ju/ is a small y-glide, and final /əl/ is a reduced schwa with a light L. Audio reference: use Pronounce or Cambridge audio for step-by-step voicing.
Common errors include misplacing stress (e.g., in-DIV-idual), flattening the /ju/ into /u/ (ending with /-ju-əl/ rather than /-ju.əl/), and dropping the /d/ in the middle making /ˌɪn.vɪˈɪv.ju.əl/. Correct by practicing the two-phoneme cluster /dʒ/? not here; instead ensure the /d/ and /j/ are distinct: /d/ followed by /j/ as a light /j/ glide into /u/ or /ju/; keep the /ˈvɪd/ syllable strong and avoid swallowing the /d/. Use slow, deliberate articulation to lock in the middle consonant cluster.
US: /ˌɪn.dɪˈvɪd.ju.əl/ with a rhotic /ɹ/ is not present in this word; UK: /ˌɪn.dɪˈvɪd.ju.əl/ often with a longer /uː/ in the /juː/ portion and less vowel reduction in fast speech; AU: /ˌɪn.dɪˈvɪd.ju.əl/ with slightly broader vowels and a less prominent final syllable, often pronounced with a light /l/ that can be syllabic. Across accents, the most noticeable differences involve the /ju/ sequence and vowel quality of /ɪ/ and /ə/, plus rhoticity, which mostly affects words ending in r in some dialects but not this one.
The difficulty lies in coordinating a multi-syllable rhythm with a mid-word stress shift and a final weak syllable. The nucleus shifts to the second main beat (/ˈvɪd/), while the /ju/ glide demands precise tongue positioning for /j/ and /u/ together. The final /əl/ requires a quick schwa plus a light L, which can sound unclear in rapid speech. Practice the sequence slowly, then speed up while maintaining distinct /d/ and /j/ sounds and a clear final /əl/.
Yes. The central nuance is the two-phoneme cluster /d.ju/ between /vid/ and /əl/. In careful speech you articulate /d/ then glide into /j/, producing /dju/ before the final /əl/. Don’t merge /d/ and /j/ into a single sound; you should hear a distinct transition. Also, the second syllable carries primary stress, so keep the /ˈvid/ crisp and avoid compressing it into a quick /vɪd/ without emphasis.
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