uh-NEE-kwuhl
/əˈnikwəl/
unequal is pronounced uh-NEE-kwuhl (/əˈnikwəl/). Unequal describes a condition or state where things are not the same in quantity, size, value, or treatment. It implies a discrepancy or imbalance between two or more elements. In usage, it can refer to both measurable differences and perceived unfairness, across contexts from mathematics to social situations.
Unequal describes a condition or state where things are not the same in quantity, size, value, or treatment. It implies a discrepancy or imbalance between two or more elements. In usage, it can refer to both measurable differences and perceived unfairness, across contexts from mathematics to social situations.
"The sides of the triangle are unequal, so one angle is larger than the others."
"Treating employees unequally can lead to a loss of morale and trust."
"The outcomes of the two trials were unequal, prompting further investigation."
Pronounce as /ˌənˈiːkwəl/ in US, /ˌʌnˈiːkwəl/ in UK, and /ˌənˈiːkwəl/ in AU. Stress falls on the second syllable: un-EQUAL with a lighter first syllable. Start with a neutral schwa or short 'uh' for the first syllable, then the long 'ee' vowel in the second, and end with 'kwal' where the /kw/ blends into /əl/. Tip: keep the /kw/ consonant cluster tight and avoid adding extra vowel sound after the 'l'.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (saying un-EQUAL with primary stress on the first syllable), mispronouncing the second syllable as 'kwəl' with a weak or missing vowel, and flattening the /iː/ to a short /ɪ/ sound. To correct: ensure the /iː/ is long in the second syllable, maintain the /kw/ blend before /əl/, and keep the final /əl/ as a light, syllabic end rather than a hard 'l' sound.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˌənˈiːkwəl/ with rhoticity keeping the 'r' absent here; UK and AU variants share the /ˈiːk/ sequence, but UK often has slightly closer fronted /iː/ and a non-rhotic tendency in broader speech. Australian tends to be non-rhotic and may reduce the first syllable more, yet the /iː/ remains long. Overall, the main differences are vowel quality and the realization of the final syllable; stress remains on the second syllable across regions.
The challenge lies in the vowel length of /iː/ and the consonant cluster /kw/ followed by /əl/. Many speakers also tense the first syllable inadvertently, leading to hampered flow. Another difficulty is maintaining the strong secondary stress on the second syllable while keeping the overall word smooth in connected speech. Practicing the sequence un- + EQUAL helps solidify the rhythm and prevents vowel reduction that undermines clarity.
A unique factor is the phonemic sequence /ˈiː/ after a light initial syllable; you should avoid turning it into a short /ɪ/ or a double vowel. Also, ensure you don’t vocalize a trailing 'l' too strongly; let the final syllable decay quickly. The phrase-level rhythm is important: un- is light, EQUAL carries the beat, so keep a crisp, clipped onset before the long /iː/ and allow the ending to taper.
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Unequal comes from the combination of the prefix un- meaning 'not' and equal, which itself derives from the Latin word aequus meaning 'level, even, just.' The prefix un- has been productive in English since Middle English, turning adjectives into negations (unhappy, unaware). Equal traces to Latin aequalis, from aequus ‘even, level’ and related to aequare ‘to make level.’ In English, unequal first attested in the 15th century as a descriptor in both mathematical and moral contexts, evolving to cover anything not matching in amount, size, value, or treatment. Over time, usage broadened from strict arithmetic or fairness to more abstract comparisons (economic, social, linguistic). The word's semantic load shifted from 'not equal' in a numeric sense to 'not fair or balanced' in social and ethical contexts, while retaining core notions of discrepancy and non-uniformity. Its pronunciation preserved the stress pattern of many two-syllable adjectives ending in -al, with initial unstressed syllable and primary stress on the second syllable when used as a modifier or predicate adjective. First known printed uses appear in legal and mathematical texts of the early modern period, with expanded metaphorical usage in philosophical and political writings as social comparison became a dominant discourse.
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Words that rhyme with "unequal"
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