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Learn How to Pronounce recognize | YouPronounce.it

How to Pronounce recognize

Quick Answer: In English (UK), the word recognize is pronounced [ˈrɛkəɡnaɪz], while in English (US) it is pronounced [ˈrɛkəɡˌnaɪz].
(Listen to the audio below for the stress and intonation)

Meaning and Context

To recognize is a fundamental cognitive and social act, encompassing both the identification of something or someone as previously known and the formal acknowledgment of status, achievement, or validity. This dual meaning bridges psychology—where pattern recognition is key to perception—and sociology, where recognition is essential for dignity, rights, and inclusion. In legal and diplomatic contexts, to recognize a government or a claim is to confer legitimacy, while in technology, facial recognition software and optical character recognition (OCR) are transformative applications. The term is deeply embedded in discussions of employee recognition programs, which boost morale, and in the critical societal need to recognize cultural diversity and historical truths. Its utility spans from a simple moment of personal recollection to complex institutional acts of validation, making it a cornerstone of both interpersonal awareness and formal acceptance.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The primary spelling is "recognize," following the American English convention. The British English and Commonwealth variant is "recognise," with an 's' replacing the 'z'. Common misspellings and typos arise from phonetic confusion and the silent 'g'. These include "reconize" (dropping the 'g'), "reconise," "recoginze" (transposing the 'n' and 'i'), and "reccognize" (adding an extra 'c'). The related noun "recognition" is also frequently misspelled as "reconition" or "recoginition." When writing for a global audience, being mindful of the "ize" versus "ise" distinction is important for consistency, though in technical fields like AI (e.g., pattern recognition), the American spelling is often standardized.

Example Sentences

Despite the faded photograph, she could instantly recognize her grandmother's smile.

The United Nations voted to formally recognize the new nation's sovereignty in 2011.

Many companies now use sophisticated software to recognize potential security threats in network traffic.

It is crucial to recognize the early signs of the equipment malfunction to prevent a major breakdown.

The awards ceremony was held to recognize the volunteers' decades of dedicated service.

His groundbreaking research in renewable energy led the scientific community to recognize him with a prestigious prize.

Optical character recognition technology allows you to scan a printed document and convert it into editable text.

Related Pronunciations



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