VOHL-tuhj
/ˈvoʊltədʒ/
voltage is pronounced VOHL-tuhj (/ˈvoʊltədʒ/). Voltage is a measure of the electric potential difference between two points, or the force that pushes electric charges through a circuit. In practical terms, it represents the pressure that drives current, typically expressed in volts (V). The term is used across electronics, physics, and electrical engineering, and can describe both source potential and the potential at a node within a circuit.
Voltage is a measure of the electric potential difference between two points, or the force that pushes electric charges through a circuit. In practical terms, it represents the pressure that drives current, typically expressed in volts (V). The term is used across electronics, physics, and electrical engineering, and can describe both source potential and the potential at a node within a circuit.
"The voltage across the battery terminals dropped as the device ran down."
"High-voltage transmission lines carry power over long distances."
"She measured the voltage with a multimeter to ensure the circuit was safe."
Pronounce it VOHL-tij, with the primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈvoʊl·tɪdʒ/, UK /ˈvəʊl.tɪdʒ/, AU /ˈvoːl.tɪdʒ/. Begin with a rounded back vowel /oʊ/ (US) or /əʊ/ (UK) and finish with /tɪdʒ/ as in 'bridge' but with a soft, brief dʒ. Keep the mouth closed enough to produce a long O-like sound, then release into a light /l/ and a quick /t/ before /ɪdʒ/.
Common errors include merging the syllables into a single sound (voi-lage) and softening the /l/ or misplacing the /t/. To correct, clearly separate /ˈvoʊl/ from /tɪdʒ/: ensure a light but audible /l/ before the /t/. Practice by saying 'vol' then 'tij' with a brief pause. Focus on the clean /t/ release before /ɪdʒ/ to avoid an almost 'vowel-tidʒ' blend.
In US English, /ˈvoʊlˌtɪdʒ/ with strong /oʊ/ and a clear /l/; UK tends toward /ˈvəʊ.lɪdʒ/ or /ˈvəʊl.tɪdʒ/ with a slightly reduced initial vowel and an emphasis smoothing between syllables; Australian often mirrors US with a slightly broader vowel /ˈvoːl.tɪdʒ/ and less rhoticity in some speakers. The /ɪ/ in the second syllable remains, but vowel quality in the first syllable shifts toward /oʊ/ (US) or /əʊ/ (UK), affecting rhythm and mouth position.
The challenge lies in coordinating the 'vo' vowel cluster with a clear 'l' onset and the hard /dʒ/ ending, plus maintaining a brief pause between syllables in rapid speech. The /l/ and /t/ can blur when the tongue lowers between /l/ and /t/. Also, the /ɪdʒ/ cluster at the end requires a subtle, short vowel before the affricate. Practicing the sequence /ˈvoʊl/ then /tɪdʒ/ helps isolate the transitions.
Why is the /l/ in voltage so influential on perceived signaling of the word? Because the /l/ in /ˈvoʊl/ is syllabic-adjacent and acts as a bridge into the /t/; mispronouncing it as a dark or velarized /l/ can tilt the word toward /voʊl.tɪdʒ/ or blur the boundary to the following /t/. Keeping a light, alveolar /l/ with a precise stop before /t/ sustains correct syllable boundary and helps listeners parse the word quickly.
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Voltage derives from the concept of electric potential difference. The root concept is the Latin word voluntas (will) via the French volter? No, the direct etymology traces to the historical standard unit of potential difference, volt, named after Italian physicist Alessandro Volta, who invented the voltaic pile (early battery) in the 1800s. The term voltage began as a practical engineering shorthand for the potential difference across a component, then broadened to denote quantities measured in volts. The unit 'volt' itself originated from Volta’s name, with the symbol V adopted by the International System of Units (SI). In electrical discourse, 'voltage' evolved from everyday talk about “the push” in circuits to a precise scalar quantity with defined voltage, phasor representations in AC, and context-specific usage in safety standards and schematics. First known uses appeared in engineering notes and early manuals in the late 19th to early 20th century as electrical power systems expanded, with technical writers adopting ‘voltage’ to differentiate potential difference from current (amperage) and resistance (ohms). The word matured alongside the science of electromagnetism, becoming a staple term in textbooks, lab manuals, and industry specifications. Today, voltage is commonly described in terms of magnitude, polarity, and reference nodes, with corresponding tolerance specifications in components and systems.
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Words that rhyme with "voltage"
-nty sounds
-age sounds
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