How to Pronounce “encephalopathy”

American (US)

/ɛnˌsɛfəˈlɒpəθi/

British (UK)

/ɛnˌsɛfəˈlɒpəθi/

noun — Any of various conditions affecting the brain.

Where the stress falls. “encephalopathy” has 6 syllables, and the transcription /ɛnˌsɛfəˈlɒpəθi/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the fourth one — so the fourth syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ɛnˌsɛfəˈlɒpəθi/ 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 "encephalopathy" mean?

encephalopathy (noun): Any of various conditions affecting the brain.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "encephalopathy", /ɛnˌsɛfəˈlɒpəθi/, 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 "encephalopathy"?

/ɛnˌsɛfəˈlɒpəθi/ in American English, /ɛnˌsɛfəˈlɒpəθi/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "encephalopathy"?

“encephalopathy” has 6 syllables, and the transcription /ɛnˌsɛfəˈlɒpəθi/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the fourth one — so the fourth syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.