2 syllables: in, duce. Stress on duce.
in-DOOS
/ˌɪˈndus/
induce is pronounced in-DOOS (/ˌɪˈndus/). It has two syllables (in-duce), with the stress on "duce". Induce means to bring about or cause a result, often through persuasion, influence, or triggering a process. It can also refer to initiating labor or a reaction chemically or medically. The term emphasizes initiating a change rather than sustaining it, and is frequently used in formal or technical contexts.
Induce means to bring about or cause a result, often through persuasion, influence, or triggering a process. It can also refer to initiating labor or a reaction chemically or medically. The term emphasizes initiating a change rather than sustaining it, and is frequently used in formal or technical contexts.
"The doctor decided to induce labor after the due date."
"Strong evidence can induce a change in public opinion."
"The researchers used a catalyst to induce a reaction in the sample."
Pronounce it as in-DYOOS in US and UK English; the first syllable is unstressed and sounds like 'in' with a weak vowel, and the second syllable rhymes with 'loose' but starts with a 'dy' blend. IPA: US /ɪnˈdus/, UK /ɪnˈdjuːs/, AU /ɪnˈdjuːs/. The /d/ is clear, the /j/ in UK/AU lands before the long /uː/ vowel. Practice saying 'in' + 'duce' with a quick y-glide before the long vowel, then compress to steady rhythm.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (saying in-DUCE with first syllable stress) and mispronouncing the second syllable as 'dus' or 'duce' without the proper y-glide. Another frequent issue is pronouncing it as /ɪnˈduːs/ with a pure long /uː/ lacking the /j/ glide in many accents. Corrective tips: emphasize the second syllable with a small /j/ onset and short /u/ before the /s/; ensure the /d/ is released lightly before the /j/ approach.
In US pronunciation, /ɪnˈdus/ features a clearer /d/ and a short or clipped vowel in the first syllable, with the second syllable ending in /-əs/ or /-us/ depending on intonation. UK English often inserts a /j/ before the long /uː/ creating /ɪnˈdjuːs/, giving a 'dyoo' sound. Australian typically mirrors UK, with a similar /djuː/ sequence and non-rhotic or subtly rhotic tendencies in connected speech. IPA references anchor these differences: US /ɪnˈdus/, UK/AU /ɪnˈdjuːs/.
The challenge stems from the /ndj/ cluster in many dialects, where the /d/ blends into the /j/ onset of the following vowel, creating a subtle but important 'dyoo' sequence. Some speakers reduce the /j/ or fail to release the /d/ clearly, leading to 'in-doos' or 'in-dus.' Mastery requires a precise tongue position: tip behind the upper front teeth for /d/, palate-directed lift for the /j/ glide, and a crisp release into the /uː/ vowel.
A unique challenge is maintaining the light, fast /d/ followed by the /j/ glide without merging into a single syllable. You must deliver a soft but audible /d/ before the /j/ onset, then transition quickly to the long /uː/ vowel, ending with an accurate final /s/. In careful, careful enunciation, you’ll separate the /d/ and /j/ sounds clearly, producing the characteristic in-DYOO-series rhythm.
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Induce comes from the Latin inducere, meaning to lead or bring in. Inducere is composed of in- (into, toward) and ducere (to lead). The word entered English in the late 14th century, initially in a sense akin to 'bring about' or 'lead to' by argument or persuasion. Over time, it broadened to include medical contexts (to bring on labor), chemical or physical processes (to bring about a reaction), and more abstract uses like instigating a decision. The core sense centers on initiating an outcome by guiding or presenting causes rather than sustaining it. The word parallels related forms like inducement and seductive, though the latter carries more emotional or persuasive nuance. First known uses appear in scholastic, philosophical, and legal texts as discussions of causation and influence. By the 18th and 19th centuries, scientific and medical discourse adopted induce for initiating natural processes, and today it remains common in both general and technical language.
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Words that rhyme with "induce"
-uce sounds
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