3 syllables: man, i, fest. Stress on man.
MAN-uh-fest
/ˈmænəˌfɛst/
manifest is pronounced MAN-uh-fest (/ˈmænəˌfɛst/). It has three syllables (man-i-fest), with the stress on "man". Manifest has two primary pronunciations: as an adjective meaning evident or obvious, and as a verb meaning to display or reveal. In noun use (rare), it refers to a document listing cargo. As a verb, stress falls on the second syllable in most forms (man-IF-est) with an /ɪ/ vowel in the middle; as an adjective, stress shifts to the first syllable (MAN-ɪ-fəst) in many contexts. Overall, the word embodies the idea of making something clear or apparent through deliberate action or appearance.
Manifest has two primary pronunciations: as an adjective meaning evident or obvious, and as a verb meaning to display or reveal. In noun use (rare), it refers to a document listing cargo. As a verb, stress falls on the second syllable in most forms (man-IF-est) with an /ɪ/ vowel in the middle; as an adjective, stress shifts to the first syllable (MAN-ɪ-fəst) in many contexts. Overall, the word embodies the idea of making something clear or apparent through deliberate action or appearance.
- You may mix up the syllable stress when switching between verb and adjective forms. If you say MAN-uh-fest for the verb, your listener may misinterpret your meaning. Resolve by practicing the verb form with emphasis on IF: man-IF-est. - Fast speech can blur the /f/ and /st/; practice with slow enunciation: /mænɪˈfɛst/ and then speed up while keeping crisp consonants. - The middle vowel can drift toward a schwa; keep it as a short /ɪ/ to maintain the integrity of the sequence /nɪf/.
"- The data is manifestly clear after the analysis."
"- She manifestly failed to consider the consequences of her decision."
"- The designer's intention was to manifest elegance in every detail."
Pronounce as /ˈmænɪˌfɛst/ with primary stress on the second syllable in many contexts, though some speakers place primary stress on the first syllable when used as an adjective. The middle vowel often reduces to a short, relaxed /ɪ/ or schwa in rapid speech. Tip: start with /ˈmæn-ɪ-/ then release into /fɛst/; ensure the /f/ is clear and the final /st/ is crisp. Audio reference: listen to pronunciations at Cambridge or Forvo to hear the verb form in context.
Common errors: (1) stressing the first syllable in all uses; fix by placing emphasis on the second syllable for verb use (man-IF-est). (2) Substituting /æ/ with /eɪ/ in the first syllable; maintain /æ/ as in cat. (3) Not distinguishing /f/ from /v/ in the middle; practice with minimal pairs to keep /f/ voiceless. Use slow pronunciation: /ˈmæ nɪˌfɛst/; then speed up while retaining the stress pattern and crisp final /st/.
US/UK/AU share the same basic shape /ˈmænɪˌfɛst/ for the verb, but rhoticity and vowel quality differ slightly. In US English, you’ll hear a clear /r/ influence in connected speech and a slightly more relaxed second vowel. In UK English, vowels tend to be shorter and crisper, with less rhotic influence in non-rhotic varieties; AU typically blends vowels more, with a slightly flatter intonation. All maintain the /f/ followed by /ɛst/ ending; keep the /ə/ in unstressed positions reduced across accents.
The difficulty lies in the two potential stresses and the middle vowel reduction: you must choose which syllable bears primary stress based on word class (verb vs. adjective/noun) and manage a quick /ɪ/ to /f/ transition into the final /st/. Also, the sequence /nɪˌf/ can create a blending challenge: ensure you clearly articulate the nasal /n/ before the /ɪ/ and keep the /f/ voiceless. Practice with slow, then normal pace to stabilize the rhythm across contexts.
A critical feature is the fast, clean release from /n/ into /ɪ/ and then into /f/; if you rush you may fuse /nɪ/ into /ni/ or mispronounce /ɪ/ as a schwa. The verb form emphasizes the second syllable: man-IF-est. Ensure you maintain the /æ/ in the first syllable if using the adjective form; otherwise, allow the middle /ɪ/ to be crisp and short. IPA reference: /ˈmænɪˌfɛst/.
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- US: pronounce /ˈmænɪˌfɛst/, with a slightly rhotic flavor in connected speech; keep /æ/ crisp on the first syllable; the second syllable stressed, ensure strong /f/ onset and /st/ closure. - UK: crisper vowels, shorter /æ/ and /ɪ/; non-rhotic tendencies may reduce the r-sound in surrounding words but not in the word itself; maintain /fɛst/ firmly. - AU: similar to US, but vowels may be flatter; watch for reduced vowels in casual speech; still keep /f/ and /st/ clean. IPA: /ˈmænɪˌfɛst/ across varieties; ensure the medial /ɪ/ is not overly long and the final /st/ stops the flow.
Manifest derives from Latin manifestus, meaning 'obvious, clear, visible' from manus 'hand' + -facere 'to make' via the Latin root mani- and face-; the sense evolved from 'made public' to 'clearly shown' in English. The noun form appeared in Middle English via Old French manifeste, ultimately from Latin manifestus. The verb sense “to reveal” emerged in the 17th century as the idea of making something visible or known became more central in discourse and governance, crystallizing in phrases like manifest proof or a manifest truth. Over time, the word broadened to various adjectives meaning evident or self-evident, while retaining its root image of making something clear or tangible—akin to presenting something to the public, literally or figuratively “placing in front.” First recorded use appears in late Middle English through Old French and Latin precursors, with broader modern usage solidifying in the 18th-19th centuries as science, philosophy, and literature embraced explicit demonstration and disclosure. The word’s journey mirrors a conceptual shift from private, hand-made evidence to publicly observable, manifest truth across domains such as law, religion, and social theory.
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