3 syllables: Pro, so, dy. Stress on Pro.
PRAH-suh-dee
/ˈpɹɑsədi/
Prosody is pronounced PRAH-suh-dee (/ˈpɹɑsədi/). It has three syllables (Pro-so-dy), with the stress on "Pro". Prosody is the study or use of rhythm, intonation, stress, and pace in spoken language. It encompasses how word and sentence melodies convey meaning, emotion, and structure, shaping how listeners interpret statements, questions, emphasis, and discourse boundaries. In linguistics, prosody analyzes pitch, loudness, and timing; in performance, it guides delivery for clarity and affect.
nounProsody is the study or use of rhythm, intonation, stress, and pace in spoken language. It encompasses how word and sentence melodies convey meaning, emotion, and structure, shaping how listeners interpret statements, questions, emphasis, and discourse boundaries. In linguistics, prosody analyzes pitch, loudness, and timing; in performance, it guides delivery for clarity and affect.
"Her narration relied on rich prosody to keep the audience engaged."
"The lawyer’s argument collapsed under questioning when the prosody shifted to a uncertain tone."
"Poets often manipulate prosody to create mood and emphasize certain ideas."
Pronounce as PROH-suh-dee (IPA US: /ˈprɒ.sə.di/ or /ˈproʊ.sə.di/ depending on speaker). Stress falls on the first syllable: PRO-. The middle syllable is a reduced schwa, and the final syllable is a clear 'dee' sound. Lip position is relaxed, with mild rounding for US /oʊ/ or open for UK /ɒ/; the final /i/ is a light, crisp vowel. Listen for a smooth, even tempo between syllables.
Common errors include misplacing stress (pro-SO-dee or PROS-uh-dee), mispronouncing the middle vowel as a tense vowel (/oʊ/ vs /ɒ/), and eliding the middle syllable. To correct: emphasize the first syllable /ˈprɒ/ or /ˈproʊ/ with a clear, short schwa in the second syllable /ə/ and keep the final /di/ crisp. Practice with minimal pairs and count aloud to anchor stress and rhythm.
In US English, PROH-suh-dee with primary stress on the first syllable; often a rhotic /r/ sound is subtle unless in rhotic dialects around the vowel. UK English uses /ˈprɒ.sɒ.dɪ/ or /ˈprəʊ.sɒ.dɪ/ depending on vowel shift; non-rhotic tendencies may mute linking r. Australian English typically /ˈprɒ.sə.dɪ/ with a flat /ɒ/ and shorter voweled middle. Across all, the final /di/ tends to be a light, unstressed end. IPA references help you map exact differences.
Two key challenges: the middle syllable uses a neutral schwa that’s easy to swallow, and the first syllable can vary between /ɒ/ and /oʊ/ depending on region. Beginners also tend to blend /sɒ/ into /sɒ/ or misplace the primary stress, treating it as /prəˈsoʊdi/. Focusing on a crisp first syllable with a clear /ə/ in the middle and a light /di/ at the end helps fix it. Use IPA-guided drills and slow practice to maintain accurate rhythm.
Prosody features a well-defined stress pattern (initial stress) and a short, unstressed middle syllable. Unique to this word is keeping the middle /ə/ sound compact rather than elongating it, which would blur the rhythm. Also, ensure the final /di/ is not a heavy /diː/ but a brisk /di/; this yields the natural, professional cadence expected in academic or editorial speech.
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- US: /ˈprɒ.sə.di/ or /ˈproʊ.sə.di/ with rhotic influence subtle; keep /ɜ/ or /ə/ in middle; quick reduction is typical. - UK: /ˈprɒs.ə.dɪ/ or /ˈprəʊ.sə.dɪ/, longer /ɒ/ or /oʊ/ in first syllable, non-rhotic; final /dɪ/ softer. - AU: /ˈprɒ.sə.dɪ/, flat vowel color, neutral middle /ə/; stress on first syllable; keep rhythm even. IPA anchors: /ˈprɒ.sə.di/ (British under some variations), /ˈprɒzədi/ could appear under some dialects; emphasize schwa for the middle. - Key tip: keep the middle syllable reduced; ensure the first syllable is clearly stressed.
Prosody comes from the Greek prosōdía, meaning ‘accent, musical tempo or cadence,’ from prosēdos ‘cue, song, or refrain of a chorus,’ from pros- ‘toward’ + a form connected to song. In Classical Greek, prosōdia referred to the musical cadence of poetry and the rhythm of verse. The Latin tradition borrowed the term as prosodia, aligning with rhetoric and elocution. In English, prosody entered scholarly and literary use in the 18th century as linguistics formalized, expanding from poetry scansion to speech prosody. Over time, the term broadened to describe the rhythm, pitch, and intonation patterns across languages, including stress-timed and syllable-timed rhythms, and in applied fields like TTS (text-to-speech) and performance coaching, where prosody shapes intelligibility and expressiveness.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Prosody" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Prosody"
-sty sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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