3 syllables: lat, i, tude. Stress on lat.
LAT-uh-tood
/ˈlætəˌtud/
latitude is pronounced LAT-uh-tood (/ˈlætəˌtud/). It has three syllables (lat-i-tude), with the stress on "lat". Latitude refers to the angular distance north or south of the equator on a map or globe. It also denotes freedom from restraint in actions or thought. The term combines a precise geographic term with a broader sense of scope or leeway. It is commonly used in scientific, navigational, and policy contexts to describe position or extent.
Latitude refers to the angular distance north or south of the equator on a map or globe. It also denotes freedom from restraint in actions or thought. The term combines a precise geographic term with a broader sense of scope or leeway. It is commonly used in scientific, navigational, and policy contexts to describe position or extent.
- You might pronounce latitude as LAT-ɪ-TOOD (/ˈlæt.ɪ.tuːd/) with a long, tense final vowel. Instead, shorten the middle vowel and land the final /tjuːd/ quickly. - Another error is stressing the second syllable: lat-i-TUDE. Correct by keeping primary stress on LAT and reducing the final syllable with a quick -tjuːd. - Some learners insert an extra syllable or lose the -tjuːd cluster, producing LAT-ɪ-TYOD. Practice the clear /tj/ onset and the /juːd/ with minimal vowel length. - Over-emphasizing the final 'd' can muff the word; keep crisp final stop without extra voicing. - In rapid speech, the /t/ can assimilate; ensure you maintain /t/ before the /j/ to avoid a /tʃ/ or /dʒ/ sound.
"The ship’s latitude was recorded at 36.2 degrees north."
"Researchers examined the latitude ranges of species to understand climate effects."
"Citizens argued about the latitude governments should have in imposing regulations."
Pronounce it as /ˈlætɪˌtjuːd/ in US/UK, with primary stress on the first syllable LAT, and a secondary-phrase feel on the -tude. The middle syllable is a short 'i' (ɪ), and the final -tude often sounds like -tyood or -tjud in careful speech. In connected speech, it can drift toward /ˈlæt.ɪ.tuːd/ or /ˈlæt.ɪˌtjuːd/. IPA guide: US /ˈlæt.ɪ.tuːd/; UK /ˈlæt.ɪ.tjuːd/; AU /ˈlæt.ɪ.tjuːd/.
Common errors include misplacing stress, pronouncing the second syllable as a full 'lat-i-tyood' instead of a quick 'li-tjuːd', and confusing the final '-tude' with '-tud' or '-tyood' depending on influence from nearby words. Correct by emphasizing the first syllable: LAT, then a light 'i' (ɪ) and a clear 'tyood' (tj-ʊd). Practicing the sequence LAT-ɪ-tjuːd helps. IPA reminder: /ˈlæt.ɪ.tjuːd/.
US tends toward a harder mid vowel in 'lat' and a clear 'juːd' at the end; UK often maintains a tighter /j/ and slightly longer final vowel; AU tends to a rounded, longer final -juːd sound with non-rhoticity in some speakers, but latitude is rhotic in general American and non-rhotic tendencies in parts of UK/ AU can influence the linking sounds. IPA: US /ˈlæt.ɪ.tjuːd/, UK /ˈlæt.ɪ.tjuːd/, AU /ˈlæt.ɪ.tjuːd/.
Because it combines a stressed monosyllable onset with a delicate final cluster: /ˈlæt.ɪ.tjuːd/. The final '-tude' reduces to a 'tjuːd' sequence that can be challenging for non-native speakers, and the 'latitude' has the 'ti' as a separate syllable with a short lax vowel. The combination of a clear alveolar stop in the middle and the 'tj' blend requires precise articulatory timing, especially in connected speech. IPA: /ˈlæt.ɪ.tjuːd/.
A unique feature is the transitional /tj/ blend in the final syllable, producing a 'tju' sound that can feel like a tiny y-glide before the final 'd'. Ensure the middle /ɪ/ does not become a schwa; keep it short and crisp. Focus on the two-stage onset: LAT-ɪ- and then a tight /tjuːd/ rather than a drawled 'lăt-ɪ-tuːd'.
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- US: rhotic quality can color the /ɹ/ influence in nearby words; latitude itself remains non-rhotic in careful speech, but Americans may articulate a slightly longer /juːd/ with a less tense /ɪ/. - UK: slight non-rhoticity, clear final /tjuːd/; keep the /t/ crisp, the /j/ lightly palatal, and the final /d/ released. - AU: tends toward a more centralized or drawn-out final vowel; maintain /tjuːd/ with a subtle, quick 'juː' and a crisp final /d/. Use IPA /ˈlæt.ɪ.tjuːd/; ensure linking from preceding word is natural. - Common vowels: LAT = /læ/, middle = /ɪ/ or /ə/ in fast speech, final /juːd/ = /tjuːd/. Practicing with small phrase cores helps unify the segments across accents.
Latitude originates from the Latin word latitudo, which is formed from latus, meaning side or broad, and -tudo, a suffix denoting a state or condition. The word passed into Old French as latitude before entering English, retaining its geometric sense. The core idea evolved from describing the broadness of a side or extent to the geodetic concept of angular distance from the equator. In scientific contexts, latitude has long been paired with longitude to specify global positioning. The term’s metaphorical uses—freedom or scope—are rooted in the sense of having a wide “breadth” or room to maneuver. First known uses appear in medieval and Renaissance scientific texts dealing with astronomy and cartography, where latitudo was used to describe the coordinate system of the Earth. By the 17th and 18th centuries, as navigational charts and maps became more precise, latitude became a standard term in geography, navigation, and related fields, while still retaining its figurative sense of freedom or discretion in policy discussions. The word’s evolution reflects the broader shift from purely mathematical usage to everyday language describing latitude in action and decision-making.
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Words that rhyme with "latitude"
-ude sounds
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