SEYE-koh
/ˈsaɪkoʊ/
psycho is pronounced SEYE-koh (/ˈsaɪkoʊ/). Psycho is a colloquial noun or adjective referring to a person with extreme mental instability or dangerous intent; it is also used informally as a pejorative. In slang, it can describe a person who is acting irrationally or aggressively. In psychoanalytic contexts, it shares roots with the medical term psychosis, but in everyday use it’s dismissive or hyperbolic rather than clinical.
Psycho is a colloquial noun or adjective referring to a person with extreme mental instability or dangerous intent; it is also used informally as a pejorative. In slang, it can describe a person who is acting irrationally or aggressively. In psychoanalytic contexts, it shares roots with the medical term psychosis, but in everyday use it’s dismissive or hyperbolic rather than clinical.
"The character in the film was a total psycho, always plotting cruel tricks."
"She called him a psycho after he yelled and slammed the door."
"Don’t be a psycho and jump to conclusions without evidence."
Psycho is pronounced with three phonemes: /ˈsaɪ/ as in ‘sigh’ plus /koʊ/ as in ‘co’ or ‘go’, with the stress on the first syllable. The full IPA is /ˈsaɪ.koʊ/ in US and UK; Australian tends to /ˈsaɪ.kəʊ/ with a longer, rounded second vowel. Mouth position: start with a high-front tongue position for /aɪ/ then close with a rounded /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ in non-rhotic accents. You’ll keep syllable-timed rhythm, rapid transition between vowels, and avoid any extra consonants after the final /oʊ/. Audio references: listen to pronunciations on Pronounce or Forvo to hear subtle vowel quality.
Two frequent errors: 1) Dropping the second vowel or turning /koʊ/ into a quick /ko/ or /kɔ/, making it sound like ‘sigh-koh’ instead of ‘sigh-koh’ with the diphthong. 2) Reducing stress to a flat 'psy-cho' or spreading it over both syllables, which weakens the intended stress pattern. Correction: pronounce as /ˈsaɪ.koʊ/ with primary stress on the first syllable and a clear, rounded /oʊ/ in the second; ensure the /ɪ/ in /saɪ/ is not shortened and keep the second syllable as a tight, rounded glide. Practice with minimal pairs and record yourself.
In US and UK, primary stress remains on the first syllable /ˈsaɪ/; the second syllable is /koʊ/ (US) or /kəʊ/ (UK). US often keeps a full /oʊ/ diphthong; UK tends toward a closer /əʊ/ with slightly less tenseness. Australian tends to a more centralized or reduced schwa in the second syllable: /ˈsaɪ.kəʊ/ or /ˈsaɪ.kə/. Overall rhoticity is less influential here since the word ends in a non-rhotic cluster; the key difference is diphthong quality and vowel reduction in rapid speech.
The difficulty lies in the two-part structure: a strong, tense /saɪ/ onset with a clear, rounded /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ offglide, and the potential for vowel reduction in rapid speech. Non-native speakers often struggle with the diphthong in the second syllable; the /ɪ/ in /saɪ/ can be shortened if rushed, and some may insert extra syllables or misplace the stress. Focusing on clean separation of syllables and proper lip rounding for /oʊ/ helps stabilize pronunciation in all accents.
Why is the ending /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ susceptible to sound shift in faster speech? In casual delivery, speakers may de-emphasize the glide, producing a shorter secondary vowel or a more clipped finish, especially after a stressed syllable. Practicing with deliberate slow-to-normal tempo helps ensure the second syllable retains its rounded diphthong quality across US, UK, and AU accents.
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Psycho originates in the Greek roots psyche 'soul, mind' and -o as a suffix used in slang. The combination appeared in early 20th-century English through French-influenced slang and popular media to denote someone with “psyche” problems or extreme mental state. The modern sense—nonclinical, pejorative slang describing someone perceived as mentally unstable or dangerously irrational—emerged in the 1950s–1960s with increasing media portrayals of unstable characters labeled as “psycho.” The word gained wide cultural currency through film, literature, and colloquial speech, often without clinical implications. Although it has a provocative charge, it remains informal and can be offensive, so it’s generally avoided in professional or sensitive contexts. First known uses appear in American slang publications mid-20th century and align with broader usage of ‘psycho’ as a shorthand for psychoanalytic and mental health-related terms, repurposed for colloquial emphasis rather than diagnosis.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "psycho" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "psycho" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "psycho"
-cho sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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