3 syllables: jeo, par, dize. Stress on jeo.
/ˈdʒɛpɚˌdaɪz/
Say it backJeopardize means to put someone or something at risk of harm, loss, or adverse outcomes. It implies action or conditions that could compromise safety, stability, or success. The term is often used in legal, professional, and everyday contexts to warn against exposing a person, asset, or plan to potential danger or negative results.
"The decision could jeopardize the company's future unless safeguards are put in place."
"Falling asleep at the wheel can jeopardize everyone in the car."
"Revealing sensitive data may jeopardize national security operations."
Pronounce as /dʒɛpərdaɪz/ (US), /ˈdʒepərdaɪz/ (UK). Stress falls on the first syllable in many contexts: JE-po-rdize. The sequence is /dʒ/ (like judge), /ə/ (schwa) in second syllable, /pər/ as unstressed, and /daɪz/ ending with /aɪ/ as in 'eyes'. Touch the tip of the tongue to the alveolar ridge for the /dʒ/, keep the mouth slightly rounded for /dʒe/, and end with a clear /z/; avoid voicing it as /s/. Audio cue: think 'JEP-ER-dize' with a light, speedy final /z/.
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying jeo- in stead of JE-po-), merging the /r/ with the preceding vowel (je-por-DAZE instead of JE-po-rdize), and turning the final /z/ into /s/ (jeopardise). Correct by reinforcing primary stress on the first syllable, ensuring clear alveolar contact for /dʒ/ and /d/, and keeping the final /z/ voiced (as in 'zoo'). Practice with minimal pairs like 'jeopardy' vs 'jeopardize' to lock the /aɪz/ ending.
In US: /dʒɛpərdaɪz/ with rhotic /ɹ/ and clear /ə/ in second syllable. UK: /ˈdʒepədaɪz/ with non-rhotic or reduced rhoticity depending on speaker, slightly shorter second syllable, and more clipped /ə/. AU: similarly /d͡ʒepəˈdʌɪz/ can feature broader vowels and slightly different final consonant resonance; Australians may de-emphasize the /r/ in non-rhotic contexts and tighten the second syllable. Overall, the critical features are the initial /dʒ/ sound, the unstressed /ə/ or /ə/ in the second syllable, and the rhot? ending /aɪz/.
Three factors make it tricky: the initial affricate /dʒ/ requires precise tongue placement, the mid syllable /ə/ can be reduced in rapid speech leading to 'je-pər-dize' instead of 'JE-po-rdize', and the final /aɪz/ blends two sounds into a single glide plus voiced fricative which some speakers voice as /aɪz/ vs /aɪs/. Ensure a clean /dʒ/ onset, a stable schwa in the second syllable, and a voiced /z/ at the end.
The word showcases a split between an unstressed middle syllable and a final diphthong with a voiced fricative. A unique point is that the /ər/ sequence in the middle is often reduced to /ər/ or /ə/ depending on pace, while the final /zaɪz/ demands full voicing for /z/. Paying attention to the transition from /p/ to /r/ to /d/ helps enforce natural rhythm and prevents a clipped or overly staccato delivery.
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Jeopardize comes from the noun jeopardy, which in turn derives from Old French jeopard, jeopardie, meaning danger or hazard, ultimately tracing back to the Latin jeopardum, from the Greek ? (e?) I think you meant 'jeopardum'? The exact lineage is messy; in English, jeopardy appeared in the 14th–15th centuries via Old French. By the 16th century, jeopardy evolved into the verb jeopardize, adopting the English suffix -ize to form verbs indicating causing or making something — in this case, causing danger or risk to a person or thing. The word carried legal and military connotations before widening to general use in risk assessment, insurance, and corporate strategy. First known uses appear in Middle English legal documents and later in common parlance as risk assessment and exposure. Over time, the sense broadened from a noun referring to danger to a verb meaning to put at risk, with usage accelerating in the 20th century due to modern risk management language.
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Words that rhyme with "jeopardize"
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