5 syllables: self, ef, fi, ca, cy. Stress on ef.
sel-FEF-ik-uh-see
/sɛlfˈɛfɪkəsi/
Self-Efficacy is pronounced sel-FEF-ik-uh-see (/sɛlfˈɛfɪkəsi/). It has five syllables (self-ef-fi-ca-cy), with the stress on "ef". Self-efficacy is the belief in one’s own ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish tasks. It influences how you approach goals, persist through challenges, and recover from setbacks. This concept, central to social cognitive theory, affects motivation, learning, and performance by shaping effort, strategy use, and resilience.
nounSelf-efficacy is the belief in one’s own ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish tasks. It influences how you approach goals, persist through challenges, and recover from setbacks. This concept, central to social cognitive theory, affects motivation, learning, and performance by shaping effort, strategy use, and resilience.
How to Pronounce Self-Efficacy
"Her self-efficacy grew after she completed the challenging course."
"Students with high self-efficacy tend to set ambitious goals and persist longer."
"Therapists work to boost clients’ self-efficacy to improve treatment outcomes."
Say /ˌsɛlf ˌɛfɪˈkeɪsɪ/ in US English or /ˌsɛlf ˌiːfɪˈkeɪsɪ/ in UK/ AU with the same secondary stress on the first word. Start with /sɛlf/ using a light final /f/ and an open front unrounded vowel. Then /ˌeɪˈsi/ in the root of efficacy, with the primary stress on the second syllable of efficacy: -e- as /eɪ/, -fi- as /fi/, -cy as /si/. The overall rhythm is two trochaic units, but note the secondary stress on self; keep the second word prominent.
Common mistakes include conflating efficacy with ‘easy’ due to similar vowels, pronouncing ‘e’ as /iː/ in both syllables, and misplacing stress on the first syllable of efficacy. The fix: keep /ˈeɪ/ in the second syllable of efficacy, and maintain primary stress on /ˈkeɪ/ with a clear /si/ at the end. Practice with minimal pairs like self-efficacy vs self-efficacious to reinforce the correct rhythm.
In US, the second word often has a sharper /ˈkeɪsi/ with reduced /eɪ/ and final /si/. UK tends to a slightly more clipped /ˈfɪkəsi/ or /ˈfiːkəsi/, and AU often merges vowels, yielding a smoother /kəsi/ ending. The key is the /keɪ/ vs /kə/ vowel and the rhoticity: US is rhotic; UK non-rhotic in fast speech may make /ˈkeɪsɪ/ sound closer to /ˈkeɪsɪ/.
Difficulties arise from the multi-syllabic structure and the /ˈkeɪsi/ tail that blends /eɪ/ and /si/ quickly. The mid syllable /eɪ/ or /i/ varies by accent, and the 'eff-' in efficacy can create a light, almost unstressed vowel. Additionally, the initial 'Self' ends with an /f/ consonant that must be clearly released before gliding into the vowel of efficacy. Pay attention to linked, brisk syllable transitions.
The unique aspect is maintaining distinct articulation between /ɛ/ in self and the /ɪ/ or /i/ in efficacy, and stressing the -ca- portion with /keɪ/ in many dialects. Some speakers might reduce /ɪ/ to a schwa in rapid speech; resist this in careful pronunciation to preserve the two-syllable rhythm within efficacy (/ɪˈkeɪsi/ or /iˈkeɪsi/) and keep the second word clearly audible.
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Self-efficacy derives from two components: the prefix self- meaning personal, and efficacy meaning the ability to produce a desired result. The word efficacy itself comes from Latin efficacia, from efficax meaning effective, from efficere “to accomplish.” The modern term was popularized in psychology by Albert Bandura in the 1970s as part of social cognitive theory. It fused the reflexive sense of one’s own capacity (self-) with the outcome-oriented notion of efficacy (effective action). The first English scholarly uses appear in the late 20th century, gaining traction in education, health, and organizational psychology as researchers explored how belief in one’s capabilities shapes behavior and achievement. Over time, self-efficacy has broadened to contexts from athletic performance to behavioral change, while remaining tied to the core idea that perceived capability—not just raw skill—drives effort, persistence, and strategy selection.
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Words that rhyme with "Self-Efficacy"
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