3 syllables: Veg, e, mite. Stress on Veg.
VEJ-uh-meyet
/ˈvɛdʒəˌmaɪt/
Vegemite is pronounced VEJ-uh-meyet (/ˈvɛdʒəˌmaɪt/). It has three syllables (Veg-e-mite), with the stress on "Veg". Vegemite is a dark, thick Australian spread made from yeast extract. It’s typically used on toast in small amounts, delivering a strong, savory umami flavor. The term has become a national icon, often associated with Australian breakfast culture and identity.
nounVegemite is a dark, thick Australian spread made from yeast extract. It’s typically used on toast in small amounts, delivering a strong, savory umami flavor. The term has become a national icon, often associated with Australian breakfast culture and identity.
How to Pronounce Vegemite
"I spread a very thin layer of Vegemite on toast for breakfast."
"Vegemite has a salty taste, so you only need a little amount."
"My Australian friend told me that Vegemite is an acquired taste."
Pronounce Vegemite as /ˌvedʒɪˈmaɪt/ with primary stress on the third syllable. The middle sound is a voiced postalveolar affricate /dʒ/ as in 'judge', followed by a short /ɪ/ before the stress-accented /maɪt/ ending. Focus on a smooth transition from /vedʒ/ into /ə/ or /ɪ/ depending on speaker. For a quick reference, imagine saying ‘veh-juh-MYt’ with a subtle /dʒ/ after the initial ‘ve’. Audio examples: you can compare with online dicts for precise timbre.
Common mistakes include placing stress on the first syllable (VE-djuh-MITE) or pronouncing the /dʒ/ as a hard /j/ or /ʒ/ without the correct affricate release. Some learners insert an extra vowel sound after /dʒ/ (ve-DEE-juh-myte). To correct: keep /ˌve-dʒə/ as a digraph cluster with a brief schwa or reduced vowel, then move quickly to the /maɪt/ ending. Practice slowly: /ˌve-dʒəˈmaɪt/ and then blend.
In US, you’ll often hear a more pronounced /ɪ/ or /ə/ after /dʒ/ and a slightly flatter /æ/ in the /maɪt/ syllable. UK speakers generally align with /ˈvedʒəˌmaɪt/ with strong /dʒ/ release and clear /ɪ/ before /maɪt/. Australian accents may display a subtle vowel color in /ə/ before /maɪt/, with a less rhotic rhythm and crisp /dʒ/ release. Overall, the nucleus around /ə/ to /ɪ/ is the main regional variation; the /maɪt/ ending stays consistent across regions.
The difficulty stems from the initial cluster /ˌve/ with a bold /dʒ/ onset immediately after, which is less common in some learners’ native languages. The middle vowel can reduce to a schwa, creating an awkward transition to the stressed /ˈmaɪt/. The final /maɪt/ shares sounds with common English words but in Vegemite it follows a heavy, affricate-influenced diphthong. Focus on the crisp /dʒ/ and maintaining syllable timing to avoid blending the /dʒ/ into /ʒ/ or /ɡ/.
The unique feature is the strong initial cluster /ˌvedʒ/ followed by a reduced vowel before the main stress, producing a distinctive cadence. Some speakers de-emphasize the /ɑɪ/ in /maɪt/, giving a shorter, sharper final syllable. Additionally, in Australian English, non-rhotic tendencies can slightly alter the vowel color in the second syllable, making /ə/ or /ɪ/ subtly pronounced. These nuances create the word’s characteristic Australian sound while remaining broadly intelligible across accents.
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US: non-rhotic tendencies are minimal; vowels may be shortened; keep /ˌveˈdʒə-maɪt/ with a clean /dʒ/ release and clear /maɪt/. UK: more precise /dʒ/ release, slightly longer /ɪ/ before /t/. AU: stronger vowel reduction in /ə/ before /maɪt/, with a crisper /dʒ/ and faster syllable transition; rhoticity is typically low, so the final /t/ is crisp but not heavily aspirated. IPA references: US /ˌvedʒəˈmaɪt/, UK /ˌvedʒəˈmaɪt/, AU /ˌveːdʒəˈmaɪt/.
Vegemite originated in Australia in the 1920s, created by名 Fred Walker House (note: historically Vegemite was developed as a yeast extract by Kraft Foods in Australia). The name is a portmanteau-like blend, combining ‘vege’ (vegetable/vegetarian) with ‘mites’ (a nod to Marmite’s yeast extract). The product emerged after taste and saltiness trials in the early 1920s, aimed at providing a nutritious, shelf-stable spread. The first widely marketed version appeared in 1923, but it wasn’t until the 1920s-30s that Vegemite began to gain traction domestically. The brand’s prominence rose post-World War II as Australian households adopted the spread as a dietary staple. Its cultural significance has grown to a national emblem, with references in media, education, and everyday life, symbolizing Australian resilience and flavor preferences. First known usage in print traces to early advertisements and food guides from the 1920s, with the term steadily entering common parlance as Australians embraced the product as a symbol of home and identity.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Vegemite" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Vegemite"
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