2 syllables: o, void. Stress on o.
OH-voyd
/ˈoʊˌvɔɪd/
ovoid is pronounced OH-voyd (/ˈoʊˌvɔɪd/). It has two syllables (o-void), with the stress on "o". Ovoid is an adjective meaning egg-shaped or egg-like in form. It denotes a shape that resembles an egg but is not perfectly elliptical, often implying a smooth, rounded contour. In biology or geometry it describes objects with a somewhat elongated, curved form that is broader at one end than a sphere.
Ovoid is an adjective meaning egg-shaped or egg-like in form. It denotes a shape that resembles an egg but is not perfectly elliptical, often implying a smooth, rounded contour. In biology or geometry it describes objects with a somewhat elongated, curved form that is broader at one end than a sphere.
"The fruit has an ovoid shape, tapering slightly toward the stem."
"Researchers modeled the cell as an ovoid to reflect its natural footprint."
"We placed the ovoid object in the display case to highlight its curved silhouette."
Pronounce it as /ˈɒvɔɪd/. The first syllable carries primary stress. The vowel in the first syllable is like the short o in 'pot', followed by a light 'v' and a strong onset into the /ɔɪ/ diphthong in the second syllable, finishing with a clear /d/. Think: O-voyd, with the 'oy' as in 'boy' but starting with 'o' as in 'pot'. Audio reference: see standard dictionaries or pronunciation resources for model accuracy.
Common errors: confusing /ˈɒvɔɪd/ with /ˈoʊvɔɪd/ by elongating the first vowel; misplacing the stress as /ˈɒvoɪd/ with weak second syllable; mispronouncing the /v/ as /f/ or inserting an extra syllable. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, ensure /ɒ/ stays short, and use /ɔɪ/ as a unified diphthong before /d/. Practice by saying 'oh-void' with crisp consonants, then transition to the accurate /ˈɒvɔɪd/.
Across accents, the primary stress remains on the first syllable /ˈɒvɔɪd/. In US English, /ɒ/ may sound closer to /ɑ/ (father-like), while UK and AU varieties keep a sharper /ɒ/. The /ɔɪ/ diphthong tends to center more in UK, and may be shorter or more monophthongal in some Australian speech. Rhoticity does not affect the word as it ends with a /d/. In careful pronunciation, all three varieties maintain /ˈɒvɔɪd/ with minor vowel quality differences.
It's tricky because of the /ɒ/ versus /ɔ/ vowel quality in different dialects and the /ɔɪ/ diphthong that requires a smooth glide from an open back rounded vowel to a high front vowel. In rapid speech, the /ɒ/ can neutralize toward /ə/, and the /ɔɪ/ can reduce toward a simple /oɪ/ or /ɪ/. Mastery comes from slow articulation, precise tongue position for /ɒ/ and /ɔɪ/, and constrained jaw movement to avoid over- or under-articulation.
Although it looks like it could be /ˈoʊ-ˌvɔɪd/ due to the 'oo' letter combination, the correct onset is /ɒ/ (or /ɔ/ in some accents), not a long 'o' as in 'go'. The letter 'oi' forms the /ɔɪ/ diphthong. The key is not to aspirate or add a second syllable; keep it crisp: OV-oid, with a tight transition from /ɒ/ to /ɔɪ/ and a final /d/.
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US: /ˈɒvɔɪd/ with rhotic listening; UK: /ˈɒvɔɪd/ with more precise rounded /ɔɪ/, AU: /ˈɒvɔɪd/ often with a slightly centralized /ɒ/ and a more clipped /d/. Vowel differences: US may have a broader /ɒ/; UK may approach /ɔː/ for some speakers; AU often reduces to a shorter diphthong and tends to be faster. Consonants: /v/ remains voiced; end with a clear /d/. IPA references: /ˈɒvɔɪd/ in all three, with subtle quality shifts.
Etymology: The word ovoid traces to the Latin word ovum, meaning egg, plus the suffix -oid meaning ‘like’ or ‘resembling’. The combination ovoid literally means ‘egg-shaped.’ The Latin ovum itself comes from aProto-Indo-European root hue-? (egg), shared with other languages’ egg terms. The first known uses appear in early scientific and descriptive texts in the 17th–19th centuries as naturalists and botanists described organic forms that resembled eggs. Over time, ovoid broadened beyond botany to physics and geometry to describe objects with an egg-like cross-section or overall contour. In modern usage, ovoid also appears in medical and architectural contexts to specify a smooth, rounded form that is not perfectly spherical. The term’s evolution reflects a shift from a strictly literal egg shape to a general descriptor for any bulging, tapering, egg-like silhouette, frequently used for describing cells, cavities, and forms in design. The word’s first known appearances align with Latin-based scientific vocabularies that sought precise, visual descriptors of natural forms, and it entered common English through translations and glossaries of scientific texts in the 18th and 19th centuries.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "ovoid" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "ovoid" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "ovoid"
-oid sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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