How to Pronounce “daemon”

American (US)

/ˈdiːmən/

British (UK)

/ˈdiːmən/

noun — A background program on a computer that runs without direct user interaction.

Example: The print daemon restarts automatically after a crash.

Where the stress falls. “daemon” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈdiːmən/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˈdiːmən/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "daemon" mean?

daemon (noun): A background program on a computer that runs without direct user interaction. For example — The print daemon restarts automatically after a crash.

How do you pronounce "daemon" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "daemon", /ˈdiːmən/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "daemon"?

/ˈdiːmən/ in American English, /ˈdiːmən/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "daemon"?

“daemon” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈdiːmən/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

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