3 syllables: mem, or, ize. Stress on mem.
/ˈmɛmɚˌaɪz/
Say it backMemorize is to commit information to memory through deliberate practice, repetition, and mental organization so it can be recalled accurately when needed. It involves encoding, storage, and retrieval processes that help you retain facts, events, or procedures. The term often implies active study strategies and mnemonic aids to ensure long-term retention and quick recall in real use.
"I need to memorize the dates for the history exam."
"She memorized the speech by practicing it aloud every day."
"We memorize basic vocabulary through flashcards and spaced repetition."
Memorize is pronounced /ˈmeməˌraɪz/ in US and UK English. The primary stress is on the first syllable MEM-, with a secondary rise in the IV: -raɪz. The middle vowel is a schwa in many dialects: /ˈmɛməˌraɪz/. Start with /m/ lips closed, then /ɛ/ or /e/ in the first vowel, then a light /mə/ in the second syllable, and finish with /raɪz/ as in rise. In connected speech you may hear /ˈmɛməˌraɪz/ or /ˈmɛməˌraɪz/ depending on accent.IPA: US /ˈmeməˌraɪz/, UK /ˈmeməˌraɪz/.
Two common errors are pronouncing the second syllable as /ˈmɛmɔˌraɪz/ with an open O sound and placing stress on the second syllable MEM-o-RAISE rather than MEM-o-RAIZE. Another frequent mistake is merging /ˌraɪ/ too early, producing /ˈmɛɪməraɪz/ or /ˈmeməraɪz/ with unclear vowel quality. Correction: keep the first syllable crisp /ˈmɛm/ or /ˈmem/ with a short E, then glide into /ə/ before /raɪz/. Emphasize MEM as the primary stress and release into /ə/ before /raɪz/.
In US/UK both share /ˈmeməˌraɪz/, with rhoticity affecting only rhotic vowels; the /r/ is pronounced in US but not in non-rhotic UK accents in some word contexts, though in careful speech the /r/ is still heard. Australian English often has a more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and may reduce /ə/ slightly, yielding /ˈmɛməˌraɪz/ with subtle diphthong shifts. Primary stress remains on MEM-, but vowel quality in /ɛ/ or /e/ can vary by speaker and region.
The difficulty lies in aligning the syllables with clear stress on the first syllable while smoothly articulating the second syllable /mə/ and the final /raɪz/. The blend of a reduced second syllable vowel and a final closed syllable with /raɪz/ can cause a slight stumble if you front-load the /r/ or over-articulate the middle vowel. Practice: hold MEM, then quickly fuse /ə/ into /raɪz/ with a light jaw and relaxed vowel.
A unique aspect is the contrast between stress-first pronunciation and rapid, fluid execution in speech. You’ll often hear a subtle syllable-timing cue: the burst from MEM into /ə/ is brisk, then the glide into /raɪz/ carries the syllable’s peak. Focus on the crisp /m/ and the even transition through /ə/ to /raɪz/ for natural rhythm and intelligibility.
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US: rhotic /r/ is pronounced; keep /r/ as a voiced approximant before /aɪz/. UK: less rhoticity, the /r/ may be weaker; focus on non-rhotic vowel quality in the middle. AU: often more centralized /ə/ and slight vowel shifts; maintain the /ˈmeməˌraɪz/ core with a soft /ə/ in the middle. IPA references: US /ˈmeməˌraɪz/, UK /ˈmeməˌraɪz/, AU /ˈmeməˌraɪz/. - Vowel quality: Middle syllable tends to be a reduced schwa /ə/. Keep it unstressed but clear enough to separate MEM- from -raɪz. - Final consonant: /z/ should be voiced and not devoiced; focus on a clean, brief closure with vocal fold voicing.
Memorize comes from Middle French memoriser, from Latin memoria (memory) + -izāre (a suffix forming verbs). The root memoria referred to memory or the act of remembering. In Latin, memorare meant to cause to be remembered, with cognate senses of recounting or recalling. The chronological path to English adopted memorise/memorize via Old French, eventually solidifying in Early Modern English as a general verb meaning to commit to memory or to learn by heart. The concept of memorization has roots in classical rhetoric and pedagogy, where memory was essential for oratory and recitation. By the 16th–17th centuries, memorize had become standard in English education to describe systematic learning through repetition and mnemonic devices. The American and British spellings diverged in the 19th century, with memorize favored in American English and memorise in British English, though both forms are understood globally. In contemporary usage, memorize often aligns with deliberate study strategies, including chunking, rehearsal, and mnemonic techniques, rather than passive exposure alone.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "memorize" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "memorize"
-ise sounds
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