Wednesday, 6 July 2011

How is the word `idiosyncrasy’ pronounced?

 The first `i’ and the final `y’ are pronounced like the `i’ in `knit’, `kit’, and `kiss’; the `dio’ is like the `dio’ in `radio’. The `sync’ is pronounced like the word `sink’, and the following `a’ sounds like the `a’ in `china’. The main stress is on the fourth syllable `sync’.

The word can be spelt `idiosyncracy’ or `idiosyncrasy’ and it is normally used to refer to an individual’s peculiarities or habits. The word can be used with objects as well.

 *One of his idiosyncrasies was to smell his socks before putting them on.

 Source: The Hindu ‘Know Your English’ Series, December 12, 2005

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