Pronunciation Guide • English (from Greek)
How to Pronounce onomatopoeia
Difficulty: very hard
IPA Transcription
/ˌɒnəˌmætəˈpiːə/
Why is it so hard to pronounce?
on-uh-mat-uh-PEE-uh. Six syllables. The stress is on the fifth syllable "pee". This word, meaning "words that imitate sounds", is itself notoriously difficult to pronounce.
💡 Pro Tip for onomatopoeia
on-uh-MAT-uh-PEE-uh. Say it slowly: ON + uh + MAT + uh + PEE + uh.
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Hear 'onomatopoeia' Audio Now →Word Origins
The term onomatopoeia originates from Greek "onoma" (name) + "poiein" (to make). Understanding its etymology helps explain why it breaks standard pronunciation rules.