English pronunciation · Words Starting with E
Earthquake Pronunciation
Earthquake is pronounced URTH-kwayk, IPA /ˈɝθˌkweɪk/.
URTH-kwayk
US /ˈɝθˌkweɪk/ · UK /ˈɜːθkweɪk/
Syllables: URTH · kwayk (2 syllables, stress on syllable 1)
noun: A sudden shaking of the ground caused by movement in the earth's crust.
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Earthquake in a Sentence
- The earthquake woke everyone in the village.
- An earthquake of that size happens here once a decade.
- Most earthquake damage comes from falling masonry.
Common Mispronunciations of Earthquake
Not erth-KWAYK
Compounds load their first element, so URTH takes the beat and kwayk follows quietly.
Not URTH-kayk
The qu carries a w glide, giving kwayk. Dropping it leaves the word cake stuck on the end.
Tip: The ear here is the ur of her, the same vowel as in earth, early, and learn.
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