How to pronounce “epitome”
Epitome is pronounced /ɪˈpɪtəmiː/. It has 4 syllables, and the beat falls on the second one — pɪ. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 4 beats. The highlighted syllable is the strong one: say it louder, longer and a touch higher in pitch, and let the others fall away. English is a stress-timed language, so getting pɪ in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern oOoo — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
The common mispronunciation of “epitome”
✗ Often said: /ˈepɪtoʊm/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ɪˈpɪtəmiː/
Why the two come apart: the final “e” is pronounced — it is four syllables ending in /miː/, not a silent-e word rhyming with “home”.
This is why reading English aloud from spelling alone goes wrong so often: the letters of “epitome” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“epitome” sound by sound
“epitome” is built out of 7 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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ɪRelax the tongue slightly lower and further back than for /iː/, keep the lips neutral, and make it short and lax.
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pPress both lips together, build up air behind them, then release with a puff of air (aspiration) when the sound starts a stressed syllable.
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ɪRelax the tongue slightly lower and further back than for /iː/, keep the lips neutral, and make it short and lax.
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tTouch the tongue tip to the bumpy ridge just behind the upper teeth, block the air, then release it with a puff.
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əDo almost nothing: leave the tongue in its neutral resting position, mouth slightly open, and make the shortest, weakest possible vowel.
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mClose the lips, lower the soft palate and let the voiced air come out through the nose.
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iːSpread the lips into a smile, push the front of the tongue high and forward, and hold the sound tense and long.
Questions people ask about “epitome”
- How do you pronounce “epitome”?
- “epitome” is pronounced /ɪˈpɪtəmiː/, with the stress on the second syllable (pɪ). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “epitome”?
- “epitome” has 4 syllables: ɪ · pɪ · tə · miː. The stress pattern is oOoo.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “epitome”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈepɪtoʊm/, but it is actually /ɪˈpɪtəmiː/, because the final “e” is pronounced — it is four syllables ending in /miː/, not a silent-e word rhyming with “home”.
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