4 syllables: Me, ta, noi, a. Stress on noi.
met-uh-NOY-uh
/ˌmɛtəˈnɔɪə/
Metanoia is pronounced met-uh-NOY-uh (/ˌmɛtəˈnɔɪə/). It has four syllables (Me-ta-noi-a), with the stress on "noi". Metanoia is a noun meaning a profound personal transformation or a spiritual conversion, often implying a change of mind, heart, or worldview. It originally referred to repentance but has broadened to denote a fundamental shift in perspective or belief. The term is frequently used in psychology, theology, and literary contexts to describe a deep, lasting change in one’s mental frame of reference.
nounMetanoia is a noun meaning a profound personal transformation or a spiritual conversion, often implying a change of mind, heart, or worldview. It originally referred to repentance but has broadened to denote a fundamental shift in perspective or belief. The term is frequently used in psychology, theology, and literary contexts to describe a deep, lasting change in one’s mental frame of reference.
- You: You’ll hear and feel a long, stressed 'NOI' cluster if you short-change the middle syllable; ensure the second-to-last stress. - You: Don’t turn the final /ə/ into a harsh 'a'; keep it as a light schwa or a soft 'ə' depending on tempo. - You: Avoid pronouncing the diphthongs as isolated vowels; keep /noɪ/ as a single rising glide. - Actionable tips: practice slowed syllables: /ˌmɛ.təˈnoɪ.ə/; then gradually speed up to natural tempo while maintaining the ear-pleasing glide.
"Her metanoia after years of indecision led her to pursue a new career with renewed purpose."
"The novel charts the protagonist’s metanoia from cynicism to hopeful engagement with the world."
"Scholars describe the patient’s metanoia as a radical reassessment of values rather than a temporary mood swing."
Pronounce it as /ˌmɛtəˈnoɪə/ in US/ AU, and /ˌmetəˈnaɪə/ in UK. The primary stress lands on the second-to-last syllable: met-a-NOY-a or met-a-NY-a depending on accent. Start with /m/ + /ɛ/ then /tə/ quick schwa, glide into /ˈnoɪ/ or /ˈnaɪ/ (the
Common errors: 1) Flattening the stress, pronouncing met-uh-NOY-uh with the second syllable weak; ensure strong secondary stress on the ' NOY ' segment. 2) Mispronouncing the diphthong in NOI/A as separate vowels, treat /noɪ/ as a single rising diphthong. 3) Rushing the final syllable and turning /aɪə/ into /iə/ or /ə/. Practice with slow breakdown: /ˌmɛ.təˈnoɪ.ə/ or /ˌmetəˈnaɪə/ and extend the final /ə/ lightly.
In US/AU, the form /ˌmɛtəˈnoɪə/ emphasizes /noɪ/ with a clearer /ɪ/ + /ə/ transition; UK tends toward /ˌmetəˈnaɪə/ with the /ˈnaɪ/ cluster more prominent and compact, while the final /ə/ may be reduced in rapid speech. Rhoticity doesn’t affect vowel quality in these positions, but vowel reduction in unstressed syllables can differ: US often reduces /tə/ to a quicker schwa, UK may keep a slightly longer /ə/.
It challenges several patterns: the multi-syllabic length, the unstressed middle syllable, and the rising diphthong in the 'noia' portion. The primary stress lands on the penultimate syllable, which isn’t always intuitive in English borrowed terms. The /noɪ/ or /naɪ/ diphthong can trip non-native speakers who expect a clean monophthong, and the final /ə/ can be reduced or pronounced as /ə/ vs /ɪ/ depending on tempo.
A distinctive feature is the mid syllable reduction: in fluent speech, many speakers compress /tə/ into a light, almost syllabic sound, while preserving clear onset of the stressed /noɪ/. The subtle vowel color of /ɛ/ in the initial syllable and the mouth shape to transition from /t/ to /ə/ to /n/ requires practiced jaw and tongue choreography. IPA cues: US /ˌmɛtəˈnoɪə/, UK /ˌmetəˈnaɪə/.
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- US: lightly rhotic; keep /ɚ/ away from metan- onset; emphasize /noɪ/ with a crisp glide. - UK: more to the non-rhotic, with a tighter mouth and slightly longer /ə/ in the middle; /naɪ/ tends to be more centralized. - AU: similar to US in rhotic tendencies, but with flatter vowel qualities; practice the /ɔɪ/ quality as a single diphthong and reduce final vowel length.” ,
Metanoia comes from the Greek word meta (after, beyond) + noia (mind), ultimately from nous (mind, intellect). It entered English via Late Greek and Latin through ecclesiastical and scholarly writings. Originally tied to repentance or a change of mind in a religious context, the term gradually broadened to describe any deep, transformative change in attitude, belief, or behavior. The earliest known English uses trace to early modern religious writers who used metanoia to denote a fundamental change wrought by spiritual conversion. In psychological and literary discourse of the 19th and 20th centuries, it extended to secular transformations—shifts in worldview, values, or self-concept—while preserving the core sense of a reevaluation of one’s mental framework. In contemporary usage, metanoia often signifies a decisive, life-altering reevaluation rather than a mere adjustment. Its pronunciation follows classical Greek stress patterns: met-a-NOY-a, with the “noia” syllable carrying primary stress in many pronunciations, though some speakers emphasize earlier syllables depending on regional rhythm.
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