VID-ee-oh
/ˈvɪdioʊ/
video is pronounced VID-ee-oh (/ˈvɪdioʊ/). Video denotes moving visual media, typically delivered as moving images with synchronized sound. In everyday use, it also refers to a recording or file format containing a sequence of images. The term blends the idea of “videre” (to see) with a media container, and is widely used across tech, communications, and entertainment contexts.
Video denotes moving visual media, typically delivered as moving images with synchronized sound. In everyday use, it also refers to a recording or file format containing a sequence of images. The term blends the idea of “videre” (to see) with a media container, and is widely used across tech, communications, and entertainment contexts.
"I uploaded a short video to share with my team."
"The video quality improved after I changed the settings."
"We watched a funny video clip during lunch break."
Pronounce it as /ˈvɪ.di.oʊ/ in US English, with primary stress on the first syllable: VID-ee-oh. The sequence is two light English vowels between consonants: /ɪ/ in the first syllable, /i/ in the second, and a final /oʊ/ diphthong. In practice, keep the lips relaxed for /ɪ/ and /i/, and glide into /oʊ/ smoothly, ending with a small, rounded closure. You can think of saying “vid” then “ee” then “oh” quickly together. Audio examples: consult standard pronunciation resources for a quick reference.”,
Common errors include vowel confusion in the second syllable (pronouncing /i/ as a lax /ɪ/ too long), and over-delaying the final /oʊ/ making it sound like /oʊw/ or /əʊw/. Another frequent slip is reducing the first unstressed syllable too much, turning /ˈvɪ.di.oʊ/ into /ˈvi.di.oʊ/ or /ˈvɪd.i/ with a clipped final. A tip: keep the middle /i/ crisp and quick, and finish with a clean /oʊ/ without adding an extra glide.
In US English, /ˈvɪ.di.oʊ/ with a clear /oʊ/ at the end; the final /oʊ/ may be slightly rounded. UK English often renders the final as /ˈvɪ.di.əʊ/ with a non-rhotic-ish closer ending, and Australians often use /ˈvɪ.dɪ.əʊ/ or /ˈviː.di.əʊ/ depending on speaker, with a less distinct /ɪ/ in the first syllable, and the middle vowel can approach /ɪ/ or /ɪə/. Overall, the biggest difference is the realization of the final vowel and the presence of a secondary syllable vowel quality in UK/AU variants.
The difficulty centers on the three-syllable rhythm and the tri-syllabic vowel sequence: a crisp /ɪ/ in the first syllable, a near-close /i/ or /ɪ/ in the second, and a rounded /oʊ/ at the end. Many speakers also struggle with sequencing rapid syllables in natural speech and maintaining even stress across all three syllables. In fast speech, the first syllable can weaken, and the middle vowel may reduce to a schwa, which alters the perceived pronunciation.
For SEO-friendly pronunciation, emphasize the primary stress on the first syllable and model the entire sequence clearly: /ˈvɪ.di.oʊ/. In audio content targeting global audiences, consider UK/AU variants like /ˈvɪ.di.əʊ/ or /ˈvɪ.dɪ.əʊ/ to improve recognition; include a short audio cue that isolates each syllable (vid-ee-oh) to aid automated speech recognition and user comprehension.
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US: /ˈvɪ.dɪ.oʊ/ with an explicit /d/ followed by a light /i/; final /oʊ/ is a clear diphthong. UK/AU: /ˈvɪ.di.əʊ/ or /ˈvɪ.dɪ.əʊ/, where the final vowel is a longer, rounded vowel; non-rhotic tendencies may drop r-like coloring, and the middle syllable can be slightly reduced. Across accents, rhotic influence is limited; in US, you’ll hear a more pronounced /r/ only if followed by r, otherwise non-rhotic. IPA references: US /ˈvɪ.di.oʊ/, UK /ˈvɪ.di.əʊ/, AU /ˈvɪ.dɪ.əʊ/; practice with minimal pairs to feel the vowel shifts and the glide differences between /oʊ/ and /əʊ/.
Video comes from the Latin word videre, meaning ‘to see.’ The modern term emerged in the 20th century with the advent of motion picture and television technology. The concept of “video” as a product distinct from film or cinema developed with the rise of video recording and display systems in the 1960s–1980s. In early usage, video referred to the medium of motion pictures captured and displayed on video hardware, contrasting with film-based media. As consumer electronics evolved, video became a general descriptor for any moving image with sound, including videotape, video cassettes, and later digital video formats. The shorthand “video” is now ubiquitous in computing, streaming, and social media, often conflated with “video file” as a generic container for formats like MP4, AVI, and MOV. The word’s semantic scope expanded from a specific technology to a broad category of visual media accessible via screens. First known uses appear in mid-20th century technical literature, aligning with the broader adoption of video recording and display technologies across industries, education, and entertainment.
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Words that rhyme with "video"
-dio sounds
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