4 syllables: In, flu, en, za. Stress on en.
in-floo-EN-zuh
/ˌɪnfluˈɛnzə/
Influenza is pronounced in-floo-EN-zuh (/ˌɪnfluˈɛnzə/). It has four syllables (In-flu-en-za), with the stress on "en". Influenza (noun) refers to a contagious viral illness that causes fever, aches, and fatigue, often with respiratory symptoms. The term also denotes the influenza virus itself. In everyday use, it commonly describes the illness rather than the virus in isolation, though both senses appear in medical and public health contexts.
nounInfluenza (noun) refers to a contagious viral illness that causes fever, aches, and fatigue, often with respiratory symptoms. The term also denotes the influenza virus itself. In everyday use, it commonly describes the illness rather than the virus in isolation, though both senses appear in medical and public health contexts.
"She came down with influenza after traveling on the crowded train."
"The clinic reported a spike in influenza cases this winter."
"Vaccination helps reduce the severity of influenza but does not guarantee immunity."
Pronunciation: in-floo-EN-zuh. IPA US: /ˌɪn.fluˈɛn.zə/; UK: /ˌɪn.fluˈen.zə/. The primary stress falls on the third syllable. Begin with /ɪ/ as in 'kit', then /f/ with the lips closed (f), followed by /luː/ with a light, rounded /uː/. The stressed /ˈɛn/ uses a short e as in 'pen' and the schwa /ə/ at the end. When saying it, keep the jaw relaxed for the unstressed vowels and ensure the /z/ is voiced clearly. Audio reference: you can hear the pronunciation on major dictionaries or Pronounce resources, such as YouGlish or Forvo, by searching 'influenza pronunciation'.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress or reducing the second syllable too much. Some say in-floo-EN-suh with a weak /z/ or mix up syllable order, pronouncing it as 'in-floo-ZEN-tuh' or 'in-FLOO-in-zen'. Correction: keep the stress on the third syllable: in-floo-EN-zuh, articulate /z/ clearly, and avoid turning /ɛn/ into a long /eɪ/ or /iː/. Practice by isolating /ˌɪn/ and /flu/ first, then attach /ˈɛn/. Listening to native speakers via pronunciation tools helps ingrain the rhythm.
US tends to maintain a strong /ˌɪn.fluˈɛn.zə/ with rhoticity affecting the 'r' only when followed by a vowel; UK and AUS share /ˌɪn.fluˈen.zə/ with slightly crisper vowels. In Australian English, vowels can be more centralized and the final schwa may sound closer to /ə/. The /ɪ/ in the first syllable remains short in all dialects; the second syllable /ˈflu/ is a combination of /fl/ + /uː/; the stressed /ˈɛn/ is short and crisp. Overall, the main differences are vowel quality and the final schwa’s realization.
It's challenging due to multi-syllabic structure and mixed vowel sounds: a stressed mid-vowel /ɛn/ followed by a schwa in a lightly pronounced final syllable. The sequence /ɪn/ + /flu/ can tempt a reduced or merged /n/ with /f/, and the /ɪ/ in the first syllable contrasts with the later /ɪ/ in some speakers. Additionally, the stress falls on the third syllable, which is less intuitive for English learners. Careful articulation of /ˌɪn/ and the /ˈɛn/ segment, plus keeping the final /zə/ distinct, helps clarity.
A helpful tip is to anchor the syllable boundaries clearly: in-floo-EN-zuh. Practice by saying 'in' quickly, then 'floo' with a rounded /uː/ and a clean /l/; pause lightly before the stressed 'EN' to accent it; finish with 'zuh' where the /z/ is voiced and the vowel is a soft schwa. Visualize the mouth shapes: short /ɪ/ at the start, rounded /uː/ in the middle, and a crisp /ɛn/ followed by a relaxed /zə/. Rehearse with slow tempo, then speed up.
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Influenza comes from the Italian word influenza, meaning 'influence' or 'impression' and is historically tied to the belief that the illness was caused by the influence of the stars or divine forces. The term entered English via Italian in the 18th century, reflecting a shift from a general notion of a seasonal influence to a specific disease label. Early medical writers used 'grippe' from French to denote the same illness; over time influenza became the standard term, with 'influenza' (italian-derived) consolidating as the formal medical name while 'flu' became the colloquial abbreviation. The 19th and 20th centuries saw refinements in understanding the influenza virus and its strains, shaping modern epidemiology and public health responses. First known use in English appears in the mid to late 18th century, aligning with the broader European adoption of European medical nomenclature. Today, influenza encompasses a family of viruses (A, B, C) with varying virulence and seasonal patterns, while the everyday word influenza persists as the common term in both clinical and public discourse.
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Words that rhyme with "Influenza"
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