SPES-uh-feye
/ˈspɛsəˌfaɪ/
specify is pronounced SPES-uh-feye (/ˈspɛsəˌfaɪ/). Specify is a verb meaning to state something in detail or to designate a particular item, amount, or condition. It implies precise characterization or delineation, often in formal or technical contexts. The term emphasizes clarity and exactness, guiding actions or decisions by listing specific elements or requirements.
Specify is a verb meaning to state something in detail or to designate a particular item, amount, or condition. It implies precise characterization or delineation, often in formal or technical contexts. The term emphasizes clarity and exactness, guiding actions or decisions by listing specific elements or requirements.
"Please specify the exact measurements you need for the project."
"The contract asks you to specify the deliverables and deadlines in a detailed schedule."
"During the interview, she was asked to specify her roles and responsibilities."
Spec-ify is pronounced with the primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈspɛsɪˌfaɪ/ (US/UK/AU). Break it into three sounds: /ˈspɛs/ as in “specs,” then /ɪ/ as in “sit,” and /faɪ/ as in “fly.” Keep the mouth slightly closed for /spɛs/, then open a bit for /ɪ/ and glide into /faɪ/ with a clear rising edge. Think: SPES-ih-fy. Audio reference: you’ll hear the stressed first syllable, followed by a lighter second, then a diphthong in the final syllable.
Two frequent errors: (1) stressing the second syllable as in /ˈspɛsɪˈfaɪ/ instead of the first, and (2) producing a clipped /faɪ/ or misarticulating the /sp/ cluster by delaying the release. Correction: keep a strong initial /sp/ onset, place primary stress on /ˈspɛs/, let the /ɪ/ be a light, quick schwa-like sound, and finish with a clean /faɪ/ diphthong where the jaw relaxes toward the glide. Practice saying SPES-ih-fye smoothly in one breath.
In US/UK/AU, the core /ˈspɛsɪˌfaɪ/ remains, but rhoticity subtly affects vowel quality in connected speech; the /ɪ/ can be shorter in faster speech, and the final /aɪ/ may be slightly tenser in some UK forms. Australians may exhibit a slightly broader vowel for /ɛ/ and a more open /aɪ/ in fast speech. The primary stress stays on the first syllable across all three, with a lighter second syllable and a clear final /ɪfaɪ/ glide.
The difficulty lies in coordinating a three-syllable rhythm with an initial strong /sp/ onset, a mid /ɛ/ vowel, a light /ɪ/ in the middle, and a final /faɪ/ diphthong. The /sp/ cluster and the separation of /spɛs/ from /ɪ/ require precise timing and mouth configuration. Additionally, the final /-ɪfaɪ/ can blur in rapid speech, so keeping a distinct boundary helps clarity in formal or technical contexts.
Yes. The word’s three-syllable structure with strong initial stress requires a deliberate pause between /ˈspɛs/ and /ɪ/ to maintain clarity, especially in careful speech. Also, the /sp/ cluster benefits from a precise release: a brief, hard /p/ plus a quick /s/ release before the /ɪ/ vowel. This helps prevent fusion with the /e/ sound and preserves the distinct /ˈspɛs/ boundary.
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Specify comes from the Latin word specifĭcāre, where spes means “specs/appearance” or more accurately “spec,” derived from the Latin word species meaning “appearance, kind, sort.” The verb form specifĭcāre developed in Late Latin and entered English via Middle French or directly from Latin roots in the medieval period. The root element “spec-” relates to looking, seeing, or distinguishing (as in spectacle, specious). Over time, the sense evolved from “to show or describe in detail” toward modern usage of assigning exact characteristics or requirements. The stress pattern shifted through English phonology, but it consistently keeps the root meaning tied to clarity and definition. First known use in English appears in the 15th–16th centuries in legal and scholarly contexts, reflecting its adoption in formal writing and contract language. Modern use spans academia, law, software, engineering, and everyday instruction, always with an emphasis on explicit, itemized information.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "specify" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "specify"
-ify sounds
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