4 syllables: Po, ly, ga, my. Stress on ly.
puh-LIG-uh-mee
/pəˈlɪɡəˌmi/
Polygamy is pronounced puh-LIG-uh-mee (/pəˈlɪɡəˌmi/). It has four syllables (Po-ly-ga-my), with the stress on "ly". Polygamy is a noun referring to a matrimonial practice in which an individual has more than one spouse simultaneously. It is most often discussed in social, legal, and anthropological contexts and contrasts with monogamy. The term highlights cultural, religious, or personal systems that permit multiple marriages at once.
nounPolygamy is a noun referring to a matrimonial practice in which an individual has more than one spouse simultaneously. It is most often discussed in social, legal, and anthropological contexts and contrasts with monogamy. The term highlights cultural, religious, or personal systems that permit multiple marriages at once.
- Do not skip the schwa in the first syllable: /pə/ rather than 'po' with a clear 'poh' sound. The first syllable should be light, not stressed. - Stress the second syllable: /ˈlɪɡə/ helps avoid saying /pɒˈlaɡəmi/ or similar. - Ensure the middle /g/ is a hard /ɡ/ and not /dʒ/ or /ɡw/; avoid a softened /ɡ/ or slurring into /ɡ/. - Final /i/ should be quick; avoid turning it into /iː/ or /aɪ/; keep it short and crisp. - Practice with minimal pairs and slow rhythm to fix the four-syllable flow. The key fix: place stress correctly, articulate the /ɡ/ clearly, and keep schwa light in the first syllable.
How to Pronounce Polygamy
"Anthropologists study how polygamy shapes family structures in different societies."
"Some communities historically practiced polygamy for strategic or economic reasons."
"In many countries, polygamy is illegal or tightly regulated by law."
You say po-LIG-a-mee with secondary stress on the second syllable. The pronunciation in IPA is /pəˈlɪɡəmi/ in US and UK, with a light schwa on the first syllable and a clear /ɪ/ in the second, followed by /ɡə/ and final /mi/. Mouth position: start with a relaxed, neutral vowel, stress on the second syllable, and finish with a light, quick 'mee.' Consider the three-stress pattern and ensure the 'g' is hard, not softened. Audio reference: you can hear this in standard dictionaries or Pronounce resources.
Common errors include reducing the second syllable to a weak schwa too early or misplacing stress on the first syllable (po-LY-ga-my). Some speakers mispronounce /ɡ/ as /dʒ/ or misread the middle /g/ as soft. The fix: stress the second syllable with /ˈlɪɡ/ and keep /ə/ in the first syllable as a light schwa. Make sure the final /mi/ is an unstressed, crisp 'mee' rather than a drawn-out vowel. Practice pronouncing po- with a gentle /ə/ and clearly articulating /lɪɡ/ before the /əmi/ ending.
In US/UK, the primary stress remains on the second syllable /ˈlɪɡə/. US and UK share the same general pattern, but vowel quality can vary: US often has a reduced first syllable /pə/ and a stronger /ɪ/ in /lɪɡ/. In Australian English, you might hear a slightly higher final voltage on the vowels and a less rhotacized /ɚ/; the first syllable can be more centered. Across accents, the /g/ stays hard, and the ending /i/ remains clear, with small shifts in vowel quality and intonation.
The difficulty comes from the sequence of multiple syllables with a mid-stressed second syllable and a cluster /ɡ/ between vowels. People often misplace stress or blur the middle consonant, turning /lɪɡə/ into /liːɡə/ or /lɪɡɪ/. The tip: practice with deliberate, isolated syllables: po-; -lɪ-; -ga-; -my, then combine. Keep the 'g' hard and crisp, and ensure the final /mi/ is short and fast rather than dragging into a long vowel.
A unique facet is the presence of the /ɡ/ between two vowels and the beginning /ə/ or /pə/ reduction. People often neglect the second syllable's strong /ɡə/; keeping /ɡə/ clearly articulated helps avoid a mispronunciation like 'pole-ga-mee.' Focusing on the two strong vowels in the second and third syllables and the crisp, unreduced final /i/ yields a natural, accurate pronunciation.
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- US: /pəˈlɪɡəmi/. Rhoticity is not a major factor here; focus on strong second syllable. The final /i/ is a crisp 'ee.' - UK: /pəˈlɪɡəmi/ with similar rhythm; listen for a slightly more clipped final syllable and less reduction in the second vowel. - AU: /pəˈlɪɡəmi/ with a slightly higher vowel quality in the first syllable and a less rhotacized mid vowel; keep /ɡ/ crisp and final /i/ short. Common across all: keep stress on the second syllable, ensure hard /g/.
Polygamy comes from the Greek poly- meaning 'many' and -gamy from gamos meaning 'marriage.' The compound forms part of a long tradition of Greek-rooted terms used in anthropology and sociology. The first element poly- denotes multiplicity, and -gamy describes a type of union or marriage. The word entered English academic discourse in the 19th century as scholars compared marriage systems across cultures. Its usage broadened with anthropological fieldwork and legal debates about family structures. Today, polygamy is discussed with sensitivity to cultural practices and civil rights, often distinguishing between polygamy in general and specific forms like polygyny (one man with multiple wives) and polyandry (one woman with multiple husbands). The term remains a focal point in discussions about gender equality, religious freedom, and social policy, with varying legal statuses around the world. Historically, the concept evolved from earlier sociological and religious writings that categorized and contrasted marriage customs, and it continues to be a dynamic term as societies re-evaluate family structures and individual autonomy.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Polygamy" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Polygamy" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Polygamy"
-rmy sounds
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