How to pronounce "ideology"

ideology

Noun
American
/ˌaɪ.diˈɑː.lə.dʒi/

Syllable Breakdown

i de ol o gy

How natives say ideology

British
/ˌaɪ.diˈɒl.ə.dʒi/

Syllable Breakdown

i de ol o gy

How natives say ideology

Pronunciation Guide In American

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with a secondary stressed 'eye' sound (aɪ).

  • Follow with a quick 'dee' sound (di).

  • The main stress is on 'ol' (ɑːl). Make a long 'ah' sound, like in 'father'.

  • Next is a weak 'uh' sound (ə), called a schwa.

  • End with 'jee' (dʒi). The 'g' makes a soft 'j' sound, like in 'judge'.

Common Mistakes

  • Stressing the wrong syllable (EYE-dee-ol-o-gy instead of i-de-OL-o-gy).

  • Pronouncing 'ol' with an 'oh' sound (i-de-OH-lo-gy instead of i-de-AH-lo-gy).

  • Using a hard 'g' sound (i-de-ol-o-GHEE instead of i-de-ol-o-JEE).

Pronunciation Guide In British

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with a secondary stressed 'eye' sound (aɪ).

  • Follow with a quick 'dee' sound (di).

  • The main stress is on 'ol' (ɒl). Make a short, rounded 'o' sound, like in 'hot' or 'lot'.

  • Next is a weak 'uh' sound (ə), called a schwa.

  • End with 'jee' (dʒi). The 'g' makes a soft 'j' sound, like in 'gem'.

common mistakes

  • Stressing the wrong syllable (EYE-dee-ol-o-gy instead of i-de-OL-o-gy).

  • Using the long American 'ah' sound (i-de-AH-lo-gy instead of i-de-OLL-o-gy).

  • Using a hard 'g' sound (i-de-ol-o-GHEE instead of i-de-ol-o-JEE).

FAQ

How many syllables does 'ideology' have?

It has five syllables: i-de-ol-o-gy.

Which syllable has the main stress?

The main stress is on the third syllable: i-de-OL-o-gy.

How do I make the 'g' sound at the end?

It is a soft 'g' sound, which sounds like 'j'. Say it like the 'j' in 'jeans' or 'judge'.

Definition

ideology

A set of beliefs or ideas, especially about how society should work.

Word Family

ideological

/ˌaɪ.di.əˈlɑː.dʒɪ.kəl/

adjective

Related to an ideology.

Example: They have ideological differences.

ideologue

/ˈaɪ.di.ə.lɔːɡ/

noun

A person who strongly supports an ideology.

Example: The politician was a famous ideologue.

idea

/aɪˈdiːə/

noun

A thought or suggestion.

Example: That is a good idea.

Key Pronunciation Differences

In 'ideological', the stress moves to the fourth syllable

- i-de-o-LOG-i-cal.

In 'ideologue', the stress moves to the first syllable

- I-de-o-logue.

In 'idea', the stress is on the second syllable and it is much shorter

- i-DE-a.

Pro Tips

The '-ology' Pattern

Words ending in '-ology' (like biology, technology) usually stress the syllable right before it. For this word, it's i-de-OL-o-gy.

Feel the Rhythm

Practice the rhythm 'da-da-DUM-da-da'. This helps you remember where the main stress is and sound more natural.

Nearby Words

Test Your Pronunciation On Words That Have Sound Similarities With Ideology

afterlife

/ˈæf.tɚ.laɪf/

Almighty

/ɔːlˈmaɪti/

astrology

/əˈstrɑː.lə.dʒi/

astronomy

/əˈstrɑːnəmi/

belief

/bəˈliːf/

Bible

/ˈbaɪ.bəl/

Catholic

/ˈkæθ.ə.lɪk/

conscience

/ˈkɑːn.ʃəns/