WEYELD-leyef
/ˈwaɪlˌdlaɪf/
wildlife is pronounced WEYELD-leyef (/ˈwaɪlˌdlaɪf/). Wildlife refers to living organisms that are not domesticated or cultivated by humans, especially animals and their natural habitats. It can describe wild animals collectively, or the ecosystem as a whole. The term is commonly used in conservation, ecology, and environmental discussions to emphasize natural life outside human control.
Wildlife refers to living organisms that are not domesticated or cultivated by humans, especially animals and their natural habitats. It can describe wild animals collectively, or the ecosystem as a whole. The term is commonly used in conservation, ecology, and environmental discussions to emphasize natural life outside human control.
"The documentary showcased the behavior of wildlife in the Serengeti."
"Recent conservation efforts focus on protecting wildlife corridors from urban development."
"We joined a guide to observe wildlife without disturbing their habitat."
Wildlife is pronounced as /ˈwaɪldˌlaɪf/. The primary stress is on the first syllable of wildlife (WILD-), with a secondary, lighter emphasis on the second syllable (life). The /aɪ/ in both syllables is the long ‘eye’ vowel; the /ld/ cluster in the first syllable blends the consonants, so you’ll say /waɪld/ quickly before /laɪf/. Mouth position: start with a wide mouth for /aɪ/ in WILD, then release into the /ld/ cluster by tensing the tongue to produce the dark L and crisp d.
Common errors include merging the two parts too loosely, saying /ˈwaɪldlʌɪf/ or dropping the /l/ in the first syllable, yielding /ˈwaɪdlaɪf/. Another frequent mistake is stressing the second syllable or making /laɪf/ sound like /laɪv/ or /laɪf/ with a reduced /i/ sound. Correction: keep the /ld/ cluster crisp: /ˈwaɪld/ and ensure the second syllable carries the secondary light stress: /ˈwaɪldˌlaɪf/. Practice by isolating the first syllable as /waɪld/ and then adding the /laɪf/ syllable with a lighter pitch.
In US and UK, wildlife is /ˈwaɪldˌlaɪf/ with the same rhyme on both syllables and non-rhotic tendencies do not apply to rhyme in US; UK is similar but may show slightly stronger non-rhoticity in fast informal speech, keeping the /r/ not pronounced. Australian speakers keep /waɪldˌlaɪf/ with a clearer fronted /aɪ/ in both syllables and often a lighter /l/ release, especially in connected speech. Overall, accent differences are modest; the main variation lies in vowel quality and flapping in American English.
The difficulty lies in the /aɪ/ vowel in both syllables and the /ld/ cluster transition, which requires a precise tongue position to avoid mispronouncing as wild-lift or wild-life with a diphthong shift. The second syllable /laɪf/ can be affected by linking and reduced speech. Focus on keeping a short, crisp /ld/ in the first syllable while maintaining a clear /laɪf/ with proper lip rounding for the /aɪ/ vowels and a quiet final /f/.
No, wildlife contains no silent letters. Each letter contributes to two distinct syllables: /ˈwaɪld/ and /laɪf/. The sequence /ld/ is pronounced as a consonant cluster in the first syllable, followed by a hard /f/ at the end of the second syllable. Mouth movement should flow smoothly from the /d/ release into the /l/ onset of the second syllable.
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The word wildlife combines wild, meaning ‘living in a natural state; not domesticated,’ with life, from Old English leofan/lifa meaning ‘the state of being alive.’ The compound formation appears in English in the 16th–17th centuries, reflecting a shift from descriptive phrases like ‘wild life’ to a fixed noun. Wild derives from Proto-Germanic *wiltaz, related to Old High German wildi, with senses tied to ‘uncontrolled, natural, untamed.’ Life originates from Old English lif, cognate with Dutch leven and German leben, from Proto-Indo-European *lei-/*lī- ‘to be alive.’ The pairing solidified as a general term for non-domesticated animals and their habitats, with modern usage emphasizing biodiversity, conservation, and ecological study. The term is now routinely used in policy, science, and media to discuss wildlife management, habitat preservation, and human-wildlife interactions. Over time, the scope expanded to include flora in some contexts and to describe wildlife as a field of study (wildlife biology) and conservation policy (wildlife protection acts). The earliest attestations identify wildlife in naturalistic discourse as a category contrast to ‘domesticated life,’ with increasing use in scientific literature by the 19th and 20th centuries as ecology emerged as a formal discipline.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "wildlife" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "wildlife"
-ild sounds
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