3 syllables: Su, i, cide. Stress on Su.
SOO-uh-seyed
/ˈsuəˌsaɪd/
Suicide is pronounced SOO-uh-seyed (/ˈsuəˌsaɪd/). It has three syllables (Su-i-cide), with the stress on "Su". Suicide is the act of deliberately ending one’s own life. As a noun, it refers to the act itself or to a person who commits such an act, often discussed in contexts of mental health, ethics, or crime. The term carries heavy emotional and social implications and is used in clinical, legal, and literary discussions.
nounSuicide is the act of deliberately ending one’s own life. As a noun, it refers to the act itself or to a person who commits such an act, often discussed in contexts of mental health, ethics, or crime. The term carries heavy emotional and social implications and is used in clinical, legal, and literary discussions.
"She studied the factors leading to suicide as part of a mental health research project."
"The report focused on suicide prevention strategies and support systems."
"In the novel, the character’s suicide sets off a chain of consequences for the family."
Pronounce as /ˈsuː.ɪ.saɪd/. The primary stress is on the first syllable: 'SOO-uh-side' with a long 'u' in the first vowel. Break it into syllables: SUU-ih-said. The middle vowel is a short 'i' sound, followed by the diphthong 'aɪ' at the end. Mouth positions: lips rounded for /uː/, tongue high and front for /ɪ/, then a wide jaw drop into /aɪ/. Audio resources: listen to Cambridge/Oxford entries and Pronounce for native pronunciation samples.
Common issues: 1) Slurring the middle vowel so it sounds like 'soo-uh-side' or 'soo-ih-side' instead of the crisp /ˈsuː.ɪ.saɪd/. 2) Misplacing the final diphthong /aɪ/ as /eɪ/ or /iː/; aim for the clean 'ai' sound in 'side'. 3) Under- or over-emphasizing the first syllable; ensure true primary stress on /ˈsuː/. Correction tips: exaggerate the first long /uː/ slightly in practice, isolate the /ɪ/ as a quick, clear schwa-like touch before /saɪd/, and practice slow-to-fast tempo with minimal pairs.
In US/UK/AU, the pronunciation remains /ˈsuː.ɪ.saɪd/ with primary stress on the first syllable. Differences lie in vowel quality: US /uː/ may be more tense and rounded, UK /uː/ slightly more clipped; AU often features a similar /ˈsuː.ɪ.saɪd/ but with more centralized or lowered vowels in casual speech. The rhotics are present in rhotic varieties (US, some AU speakers) affecting the following vowel transitions subtly. Overall, the primary stress and the /aɪd/ ending remain stable across accents.
Key challenges: the combination of an initial long /uː/ followed by a quick /ɪ/ and then the tightly closed /saɪd/ diphthong can cause vowel merging if syllables run together. The /ɪ/ is short and can blur with the schwa in rapid speech, and the /aɪ/ diphthong requires a smooth glide from /ɪ/ to /aɪ/. Rapid speech can also collapse the four distinct sounds into a blended seal-like vowel chain. Focus on isolating each sound briefly before linking them.
No. Every letter participates in producing the four phonemes: /ˈsuː/ (S-u), /ɪ/ (the short middle), /saɪd/ (s-igh-d). There are no silent letters in standard pronunciation. Some speakers may reduce the /ɪ/ to a very short sound or pronounce the middle vowel faintly, but it is not silent. For precise articulation, keep the middle /ɪ/ audible and avoid swallowing it.
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Suicide comes from the Latin suicidium, from sui ‘of oneself’ + caedere ‘to kill’ (also seen in homicide). The French borrowed it as suicide in the Middle Ages, then English adopted it in the 16th century. Initially, suicide carried religious and legal stigma, often framed as murder or self-murder. By the 19th and 20th centuries, secular psychology reframed it within medical and humanitarian discourse, shifting from moral condemnation to clinical understanding of despair, suicidal ideation, and prevention. The modern sense centers on the intentional taking of one’s life, with legal and ethical discussions focusing on prevention, autonomy, and public health implications. The term remains emotionally charged, with pejorative or sensational uses in media sometimes exacerbating stigma. First known English usage traces to translations of continental laws and religious texts that described self-destruction as a crime or sin, evolving through medical literature into contemporary discourse on suicide prevention and mental health awareness.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Suicide" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Suicide" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Suicide" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Suicide"
-ide sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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