STER-ee-uh-teyep
/ˈstɛɹiəˌtaɪp/
stereotype is pronounced STER-ee-uh-teyep (/ˈstɛɹiəˌtaɪp/). A widely held but oversimplified belief about the characteristics of a group, often based on insufficient evidence and applied broadly. The term can refer to a preconceived notion that shapes attitudes or behavior toward people who belong to that group. It is frequently discussed in contexts of social science, media, and workplace dynamics.
A widely held but oversimplified belief about the characteristics of a group, often based on insufficient evidence and applied broadly. The term can refer to a preconceived notion that shapes attitudes or behavior toward people who belong to that group. It is frequently discussed in contexts of social science, media, and workplace dynamics.
- You: You might over-elongate the middle /iə/ sequence, turning the word into three equal parts. Correction: compress the /iə/ to a quick, almost schwa-like /ɪə/ or /ə/ and let the final /taɪp/ carry the pace. - Another error is dropping or softening the final /p/; ensure a crisp closure with the lips making contact to release /p/ cleanly. - A third mistake is misplacing stress by making the second syllable relatively strong; keep primary stress on the first syllable and reduce the middle syllable’s energy for natural rhythm.
"Policy makers must challenge stereotypes that persist in the media to avoid biased decisions."
"The classroom dialogue helped students recognize and question their stereotypes about different cultures."
"She realized her stereotype of the city folk was unfair after meeting kind, helpful neighbors."
You say /ˈstɛr.i.əˌtaɪp/ (US/UK). Start with a stressed first syllable /ˈstɛr/ with an American or British rhotic r if present, then a reduced /i.ə/ sequence in the middle and end on /taɪp/ with a crisp /t/ and final /aɪp/. The primary stress is on the first syllable; the post-stress syllables are lighter. Practice by saying: 'STERR-ee-uh-type' quickly, then slower with equal emphasis to hear the cadence.
Common errors include delaying or misplacing the stress (saying ‘stair-e-eh-type’), pronouncing the middle as a full syllable /ˈstɛrɪ.ə.ˌtaɪp/ with a pronounced /ɪ/ instead of a reduced /ə/ in the second syllable, and running the final /taɪp/ into a plain face of /t/ without a concise /aɪp/. To fix, keep the first syllable prominent, reduce the middle to a quick /iə/ or /ə/ sequence, and land on the strong /aɪp/ at the end.
In US and UK English, the initial /stɛr/ is similar, with rhoticity affecting the /r/ in many US speakers; the /ˌtaɪp/ ending is consistent. Australian speech often shows a less pronounced /r/ and a slightly broader vowel in /e/ of /ˈstɛr/; the middle /iə/ may reduce toward /ɪə/ or /ɪə/. Overall, the main differences are rhotic articulation of /r/ and subtle vowel shifts in the first two syllables; the final /taɪp/ remains stable across accents.
Three challenges: the non-stressed sequence in the middle (the /iə/ or /ə/ reduction can be unfamiliar), the two consonant clusters after the initial vowel ( /r/ and /t/ in close proximity ), and maintaining the final strong /aɪp/ without excess voicing. Focus on the primary stress on /stɛr/, keep the middle light, and finish with a crisp /t/ followed by /aɪp/. Isolating the final consonant helps avoid trailing; practice with slow enunciations before speed.
A distinct feature is the two-step stress pattern: strong primary stress on the first syllable and secondary emphasis affecting how the syllables flow into the final /aɪp/. The /ˈstɛr/ part should sit firmly in the mouth, then glide into a lighter mid portion before the solid final /taɪp/. Visualize the word as two clear beats: STER- and -otype, with the second beat substantially lighter than the first.
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- US: rhotic /r/ in /ˈstɛr/; keep /r/ light but audible if you use rhotic speech. The middle /iə/ often reduces. - UK: non-rhotic or lightly rhotic; /ˈstɛəri.ə/ with a smoother glide; avoid adding extra syllables. - AU: less pronounced /r/; maintain broad vowel quality on /e/ in /stɛ/; final /aɪp/ remains consistent; watch for flattening of /ɪə/ into /iː/ in rapid speech. IPA guides: /ˈstɛr.i.əˌtaɪp/ US/UK; AU similar with /ɜː/ or /ɛ/ depending on speaker.
The word stereotype originates from the French estereotype, formed from estere - ‘solid image’ and type - ‘impression’ (from Greek typos, ‘impression, figure’). In the printing trade, a stereotype was a solid block used to cast multiple copies, replacing the original stereotype plate, metaphorically extending to fixed, rigid ideas about groups. The earliest English usage appeared in the late 18th to early 19th century as a general term for a fixed mental image. By the mid-20th century, it had acquired its modern social-psychological sense: a widely held but oversimplified belief about a group. The evolution reflects a shift from concrete printing technology to abstract cognitive schemas, highlighting how generated notions become entrenched through repetition and cultural messaging.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "stereotype" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "stereotype"
-ype sounds
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