2 syllables: O, gee. Stress on O.
OH-jee
/ˈoʊdʒiː/
Ogee is pronounced OH-jee (/ˈoʊdʒiː/). It has two syllables (O-gee), with the stress on "O". Ogee is a decorative, S-shaped curve or molding used especially in architecture and design. It derives from a term for an S-shaped line and describes a subtle, serpentine outline that is both elegant and complex. In usage, it often appears in profiles, arches, and furniture ornamentation.
nounOgee is a decorative, S-shaped curve or molding used especially in architecture and design. It derives from a term for an S-shaped line and describes a subtle, serpentine outline that is both elegant and complex. In usage, it often appears in profiles, arches, and furniture ornamentation.
- You may trip over the diphthong in the first vowel; ensure it moves smoothly from o to ʊ or oʊ before landing on iː. - Avoid stressing the first syllable; keep the beat on the second syllable: o-ˈgee. - Do not nasalize or soften the /ɡ/; keep a clean, hard /ɡ/ before the /iː/.
Tips to fix: practice with a two-step drill: say oʊ slowly, then add the /ɡiː/ in a single motion; use minimal pairs like go-gee to anchor the second syllable; record and compare to a reference pronunciation; mouth should form a crisp release before the long /iː/.
How to Pronounce Ogee
"The cabinet door featured an ogee profile with a graceful S-curve."
"Architects specified an ogee arch to soften the doorway and add visual depth."
"The radiator cover was trimmed with an ogee molding to echo classical detailing."
Pronounce as oʊˈɡiː (US) or əʊˈɡiː (UK/AU). The stress falls on the second syllable: o-gee. Start with an open mid back rounded vowel, then a hard g as in go, ending with a long ee vowel. Tip: the first vowel is a diphthong, gliding from o to ʊ or oʊ, then a clear /ɡ/ and /iː/. Audio resources: listen to pronunciation on sources like Pronounce or Forvo for native nuance.
Common errors: misplacing stress (saying ‘OH-gee’ with first syllable emphasis); pronouncing the second syllable with a short /i/ instead of /iː/; softening the /g/ to /dʒ/ or a fricative; failing to complete the long /iː/. Corrections: stress second syllable accurately (o-ˈgee), codify the /ɡ/ as a hard stop before a clear /iː/, and ensure lip rounding transitions into the diphthong. Practice with a focused ear on the ending: keep a long ee sound rather than a clipped vowel.
In US, the second syllable bears primary stress: oʊˈɡiː; vowels are rounded at the start of the diphthong. UK and AU typically render the first vowel as a mid back rounded vowel and maintain the same stress pattern: əʊˈɡiː or oʊˈɡiː, with a crisper /ɡ/ and a long /iː/. US tends to smooth the transition in the second vowel; UK/AU may preserve slight vowel quality differences, but the overall pattern remains stress on the second syllable and a long final /iː/.
The difficulty lies in the short, high-stress final vowel /iː/ after the /ɡ/ and in producing the accurate diphthong starting point oʊ or əʊ. Speakers often misplace the stress or shorten the final vowel, resulting in oʊˈɡi or oʊˈdʒiː. Also, the unrounded vs rounded onset can challenge non-native speakers, and the quick transition from /ɡ/ to /iː/ requires precise mouth movement. Practice with slow pacing and a clear release to master the sequence.
People often search for 'How to pronounce ogee molding' or 'ogive vs ogee' distinctions. A unique query point is the stress on the second syllable and the presence of a long eː sound after a hard /ɡ/. Including explicit IPA, stress mark, and notes about the historical term helps SEO. You’ll want to address both the architectural pronunciation and the decorative sense, ensuring the guidance references the same phonetic sequence in all major accents.
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- US: rhotic vowel tendencies can make the first syllable feel more rounded; keep /əʊ/ or /oʊ/ with a slightly reduced first vowel when in fast speech; ensure /ɡ/ is a clean stop before /iː/. IPA: oʊˈɡiː. - UK: more precise open-mid back rounded vowel in the first syllable; stronger alveolar stop then long /iː/; IPA: əʊˈɡiː. - AU: similar to UK, but with subtle Australian vowel coloring; maintain non-rhotic tendencies in some speakers, yet with a clear /ɡ/ onset and long /iː/; IPA: əʊˈɡiː. - Common: keep lip relaxation after /o/ to allow smooth gliding into /ɡ/ and /iː/; avoid adding an extra syllable or changing stress pattern.
Ogee comes from French ogive, ultimately from Old French ogive, which itself traces to the Latin ogiva. The exact lineage is debated, but it is connected to oge, the meaning “eye” or “outline,” and to the concept of a curved, elongated S-form used in architecture. The term gained prominence in English architectural vocabulary in the 18th century during the neoclassical and Georgian periods, when refined interior detailing embraced complex curves inspired by Gothic and Renaissance ornamentation. The word established itself in design lexicons to describe a specific double-curved profile—concave-convex—reminiscent of an elongated S. Over time, “ogee” has broadened to describe any double-arc curve in both furniture and architectural elements, remaining a precise technical descriptor in professional practice. Contemporary usage preserves the classical association while occasionally appearing in product descriptions, jewelry, and graphic lines to denote a sophisticated, flowing contour.
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Words that rhyme with "Ogee"
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