3 syllables: Ma, la, dies. Stress on Ma.
MAL-uh-deez
/ˈmælədiz/
Maladies is pronounced MAL-uh-deez (/ˈmælədiz/). It has three syllables (Ma-la-dies), with the stress on "Ma". Maladies is the plural of malady, meaning illnesses or diseases, especially chronic or widespread ones. The term, often found in formal or medical discourse, conveys not just single ailments but a spectrum of health issues. It carries a somewhat clinical or literary tone depending on context.
nounMaladies is the plural of malady, meaning illnesses or diseases, especially chronic or widespread ones. The term, often found in formal or medical discourse, conveys not just single ailments but a spectrum of health issues. It carries a somewhat clinical or literary tone depending on context.
"Her patients suffered from a range of maladies, from respiratory infections to metabolic disorders."
"The pamphlet catalogued infectious and chronic maladies affecting rural communities."
"Despite advances in medicine, new maladies continue to challenge public health researchers."
Pronunciation is /ˈmæl.ə.diːz/ in US and UK dictionaries. The primary stress is on the first syllable MAL-, with a long E in the final -dies. Mouth position: start with a low-open vowel /æ/, then a schwa-like /ə/ in the second syllable, and end with /iːz/ as a long E plus voiced z. If you hear “ma-luh-deez,” you’re close; aim for crisp syllable boundaries and final voicing. ForAU speakers, it’s similar: /ˈmæl.ə.diz/ given typical non-rhotic adjustments still yielding the /z/ ending.
Common errors: conflating the middle /ə/ with /ɪ/ or rushing the second syllable so it sounds like /ˈmæl.ɪ.diːz/. Another mistake is misplacing the stress, saying /ˈmæl.a.dɪz/. Correction: keep the three-syllable rhythm with clear /ə/ in the second syllable and a long /iː/ before the final /z/. Practice by segmenting into MAL-uh-deez, then blend while maintaining even tempo.
US/UK share /ˈmæl.ə.diːz/ with three syllables; rhoticity affects only preceding vowels in connected speech, not the word’s core vowels. In non-rhotic UK speech, the final /z/ remains voiced, but you may hear a slightly shorter /iː/ and a more centralized /ə/ in rapid speech. Australian English tends toward /ˈmæl.ə.diz/ with a potentially shorter initial /æ/ and a stronger final syllable onset. IPA remains a useful guide across accents.
The difficulty lies in three elements: length, multi-syllabic rhythm, and the mid vowel /ə/ being unstressed yet central, which can blur in fast speech. The final /iːz/ requires a tense front vowel before a voiced /z/, which some speakers shorten. Also, the middle syllable’s schwa can shift toward /ɪ/ or /ə/ depending on dialect. Focus on three distinct vowel sounds and a clean /z/ voice.
No silent letters in careful pronunciation; the challenge is ensuring each syllable is audible: /ˈmæl.ə.diːz/. The digraph -di- here yields /diː/ rather than /dɪ/; ensure you keep the final /z/ voiced in all accents. The external stress on MAL- helps lock the rhythm, so avoid slurring the middle /ə/ and keep crisp /diː/ before the final /z/.
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Maladies derives from the Old French maladié, which itself comes from mal- (bad, ill) + -adié (sufferance), ultimately tracing to Latin malum (evil, bad) and agere (to do, drive). The form entered English through French influence in the late Middle Ages, initially in medical and literary contexts, often pluralized to indicate multiple illnesses. In 16th–18th centuries, it appeared in medical treatises and satirical literature, emphasizing pervasive or systemic conditions rather than isolated symptoms. Over time, maladies retained a formal, sometimes rhetorical flavor, distinguishing serious health concerns from everyday minor ailments. The plural form signals a spectrum rather than a single disease, and today it can also convey figurative “ailments” of society or institutions in elevated prose. First known use in English attests to its cultivated, medicalized tone rather than popular speech.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Maladies" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Maladies"
-ies sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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