3 syllables: Ther, mo, stat. Stress on Ther.
THUR-muh-stat
/ˈθɝməˌstæt/
Thermostat is pronounced THUR-muh-stat (/ˈθɝməˌstæt/). It has three syllables (Ther-mo-stat), with the stress on "Ther". Thermostat is a device that automatically regulates a system’s temperature by switching heating or cooling devices on or off to maintain a desired setpoint. It integrates sensing and control to keep environmental conditions stable, often using a dial, digital display, or app to adjust settings. In everyday use, it denotes both the device and the control mechanism within heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
nounThermostat is a device that automatically regulates a system’s temperature by switching heating or cooling devices on or off to maintain a desired setpoint. It integrates sensing and control to keep environmental conditions stable, often using a dial, digital display, or app to adjust settings. In everyday use, it denotes both the device and the control mechanism within heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
"The thermostat tripped a breaker after the power surge."
"She adjusted the thermostat to conserve energy during the night."
"The old thermostat was replaced with a smart model that learns your schedule."
Thermostat is pronounced as /ˈθɜːr.mə.stæt/ in US English, with primary stress on the first syllable. Break it into three parts: THER- (voiceless /θ/ followed by a mid back rounded vowel), mo- (schwa-like /mə/), stat (/stæt/ with a short a sound). Pay attention to the rhoticity of the US /ɜːr/ cluster, which is less prominent in non-rhotic accents but still present in many speakers. You’ll hear a light r-coloring in American accents. IPA guidance: US /ˈθɜːr.mə.stæt/; UK /ˈθɜː.mə.stæt/; AU /ˈθɜː.mə.stæt/. Audio reference: search reputable pronunciation resources for “thermostat” to hear the tri-syllabic flow and the stressed first syllable.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (stressing the second or third syllable), eliding the middle syllable to /ˈθɜːm.stæt/ or /ˈθɜːr.mæːstæt/, and mispronouncing the final /t/ as a soft /d/ or a glottal stop in rapid speech. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable and fully articulate the middle /mə/ with a schwa; end with a clear /stæt/ with a crisp /t/. Practice slows the rhythm to three equal beats: THER-mə-stat. IPA: /ˈθɜːr.mə.stæt/ across dialects.
In US and UK accents, the initial /θ/ remains a voiceless dental fricative; the /ɜːr/ cluster in US is often rhotacized (the /r/ is more pronounced) while UK often has a shorter /ɜː/ vowel with less rhotic coloring in careful speech. Australian speakers typically have a similar vowel to US but with Australian vowel height and a flatter /æ/ in stressed syllables. The final /t/ tends to be aspirated in American speech and more variable (flapped or alveolar tap) in fast UK speech. IPA: US /ˈθɜːr.mə.stæt/, UK /ˈθɜː.mə.stæt/, AU /ˈθɜː.mə.stæt/.
The difficulty lies in the initial voiceless dental fricative /θ/ followed by a stressed syllable and a three-syllable word with a short, unstressed middle syllable. The /ˈθɜːr.mə.stæt/ rhythm requires precise timing: maintain short, punchy /t/ at the end, avoid converting /stæt/ to /stæt/ with a soft stop. Speakers often misplace stress or blur the middle /ə/ into a near-schwa. Practicing with slow, isolated syllables helps; use IPA cues to tokenize and rehearse.
A unique aspect is the tri-syllabic structure with a strong initial stress and a clear, late-final /t/ sound. Unlike some multi-syllable words that reduce a vowel, thermostat preserves a distinct /ə/ in the middle and ends with a crisp /t/. The challenge is balancing the central /mə/ with the following /stæt/ cluster smoothly, without inserting extra vowels or weakening the first syllable. IPA: /ˈθɜːr.mə.stæt/ across major accents.
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Thermostat comes from the fusion of two Greek-derived roots: therm-, from therme meaning heat, and -stat, from histanai meaning to stand or cause to stand, akin to standing device. The term was coined in the early 20th century as automatic temperature-regulating devices became common in heating systems. The root therm- is found in words like thermodynamics and thermostat-related terms, while -stat derives from Greek histanai, seen in words like static and constant. The concept of a temperature-regulating mechanism matured with advances in electrical control, bimetallic strips, and later, electronic sensors. Early thermostats were mechanical, relying on expansion and contraction with temperature to actuate a switch. The exact first use is hard to pinpoint, but the term began appearing in technical literature and catalogs in the 1920s and 1930s as home heating systems expanded. Over time, thermostats evolved into smart devices with digital interfaces and remote operation, while the core idea — maintaining a setpoint by feedback control — remained constant.
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Words that rhyme with "Thermostat"
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