Pronunciation Guide • English (from Greek)
How to Pronounce cacophony
Difficulty: hard
IPA Transcription
/kəˈkɒfəni/
Why is it so hard to pronounce?
kuh-KOF-uh-nee. Four syllables. The "c" before "a" is hard /k/. Stress on second syllable. The word literally means "bad sound" in Greek, which is ironic given how complicated it sounds.
💡 Pro Tip for cacophony
kuh-KOF-uh-nee. Think: "ka" + "coffee" (without the final ee) + "nee".
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Hear 'cacophony' Audio Now →Word Origins
The term cacophony originates from Greek "kakophonia" (bad sound). Understanding its etymology helps explain why it breaks standard pronunciation rules.