Learn How to Pronounce anathema
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How to pronounce:
anathema
Definition:
(nou) a detested person (nou) a formal ecclesiastical curse accompanied by excommunication
Phonetic Transcription:
əˈnæθəmə
Examples:
Any crime is anathema for the libertarian.
The behaviour is anathema to the purposes of the project.
Such a view was popular in the thirties and anathema in the fifties.
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Common mistakes of anathema pronunciation
- Stress placement: Many people incorrectly stress the second syllable, saying "an-ˈa-the-ma". The correct stress is on the third syllable, "an-ˌa-ˈthe-ma". Tip: Emphasize "the" to get it right.
- Vowel sounds: Some pronounce "anathema" with a short "a" in the first syllable, saying "ˈan-ə-the-ma". The first syllable should have a clear "a" sound as in "cat" (ˈæ). Tip: Practice saying "an" clearly to avoid confusion.
- Syllable count: A common mistake is reducing the syllable count, saying "anathema" as if it has only three syllables. The word has four syllables: "an-ˌa-ˈthe-ma". Tip: Break it down into parts to ensure you pronounce all syllables.
- Final vowel sound: Some speakers drop the final vowel sound, pronouncing it as "anathema" with a hard "m" sound. The correct pronunciation includes a soft ending, "anathema" with a subtle "a" sound. Tip: Focus on the ending to maintain clarity.
- Mispronouncing "th": People often mispronounce the "th" in "anathema" as a "t", saying "anateema". The correct sound is a voiced "th" (θ), as in "this". Tip: Practice the "th" sound in isolation to improve accuracy.