3 syllables: Sykes, Pi, cot. Stress on Sykes.
SEYEK-spik-oh
/ˈsaɪks pɪkoʊ/
Sykes-Picot is pronounced SEYEK-spik-oh (/ˈsaɪks pɪkoʊ/). It has three syllables (Sykes-Pi-cot), with the stress on "Sykes". Sykes-Picot refers to the secret 1916 agreement between Britain and France that would redraw the map of the Middle East after World War I. It’s used to describe Western involvement in Middle Eastern borders and influence. The term combines two surnames, each pronounced with typical English phonology, and is widely recognized in historical and geopolitical discussions.
nounSykes-Picot refers to the secret 1916 agreement between Britain and France that would redraw the map of the Middle East after World War I. It’s used to describe Western involvement in Middle Eastern borders and influence. The term combines two surnames, each pronounced with typical English phonology, and is widely recognized in historical and geopolitical discussions.
How to Pronounce Sykes-Picot
"The Sykes-Picot agreement shaped Middle Eastern borders in the aftermath of World War I."
"Scholars often critique the long-term consequences of the Sykes-Picot borders on regional politics."
"During the lecture, he referenced the Sykes-Picot agreement as a key example of wartime diplomacy."
Pronounce as Sykes-Picot, with two clear name parts. US/UK/AU: /ˈsaɪkz-ˈpɪkoʊ/ (US) or /ˈsaɪkz-ˈpɪkəʊ/ (UK/AU). Stress is on the first syllable of each proper name: Sykes (SAI-cks) and Picot (PICK-oh). The dash functions as a short pause. Think “SIGHKS-” + “PIE-koh.” For audio reference, imagine common proper-name compounds with two capitals; you’ll hear a crisp, two-beat rhythm: SYKES-PI-koh.
Common errors include misplacing stress on the second name (PICOT) or flattening the second name to one syllable. Another trap is mispronouncing Picot as 'PIE-kot' or 'PICK-ot' or gliding the ‘k’ into the following vowel. To correct: keep the first name stressed (SYKES) and pronounce Picot as ‘PICK-oh’ (US) or ‘PIK-əʊ’ (UK/AU), with two distinct syllables. Practice the two parts separately, then blend with a short pause between them.
US tends to keep Picot as two syllables with a clear /ɪ/ and /oʊ/. UK and AU often use /ˈsaɪkz-ˈpɪkəʊ/ where Picot ends with a long /əʊ/ vowel; rhoticity isn’t as strong in non-American varieties, so the /r/ is absent. In all, the major difference is the final vowel length and quality: /-koʊ/ (US) vs /-kəʊ/ (UK/AU). The rhythm remains two-stress segments, but vowel quality of the second part shifts slightly.
Two proper names fused with a hyphen create a multi-syllabic, unfamiliar cluster for many. The second name Picot contains a reduced vowel /ə/ or /ɪ/ depending on region, and the final /oʊ/ vs /əʊ/ can surprise learners. Also, the initial /s/ cluster in Sykes transitions into a voiced /z/—the plural‑like ending is not immediately intuitive. The combination requires precise mouth positions, controlled breath, and clear syllable boundaries.
A distinctive feature is maintaining crisp separation between the two surname components while preserving natural speech rhythm. You want a slight pause between Sykes and Picot, not a fusion. Also ensure correct linking: the final consonant of Sykes (/z/) flows into the initial /p/ of Picot; beginners often insert an extra vowel. Practice with deliberate pauses and then gradually blend at normal speed.
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The term comes from the surnames of the British diplomat Mark Sykes and the French diplomat François Georges-Picot, who negotiated the 1916 agreement during World War I. The compound name literally memorializes the two negotiators and the pact bearing their names. The word entered common use in historical and political discourse to describe the secret accord that proposed to divide Ottoman territories in the Middle East into various zones of influence for Britain and France. Over time, the label has acquired figurative meaning, signaling Western power brokerage, imperial strategy, and the long-tail effects on the political geography of the region. First widely cited in English literature and contemporaneous correspondence around 1916–1917, the phrase grew in prominence as analysts debated the treaty’s consequences for Arab self-rule, nationalist movements, and the post–World War I settlement. In modern usage, “Sykes-Picot” serves as shorthand for Western diplomatic decisions with enduring regional impact, even as scholars note that the borders it proposed were never fully implemented as originally imagined. Its pronunciation has remained stable in English, with the hyphen forming a natural spoken and written pause between the two proper names.
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Words that rhyme with "Sykes-Picot"
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