Pronunciation Guide • English (from Greek)
How to Pronounce xenophobia
Difficulty: medium
IPA Transcription
/ˌzɛnəˈfoʊbiə/
Why is it so hard to pronounce?
ZEN-uh-FOH-bee-uh. Five syllables. The "x" is pronounced /z/ in this word (Greek origin, where "ξ" = "xen"). Stress is on the third syllable.
💡 Pro Tip for xenophobia
ZEN-uh-FOH-bee-uh. The X sounds like Z.
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Hear 'xenophobia' Audio Now →Word Origins
The term xenophobia originates from Greek "xenos" (stranger) + "phobos" (fear). Understanding its etymology helps explain why it breaks standard pronunciation rules.