How to Pronounce Outbreak
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Outbreak Pronunciation
OWT-brayk
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
OWT
stress here
brayk
2 syllables
What is Outbreak?
The occurrence of disease cases at a greater than expected frequency in a specific location or among a specific group of people over a particular time period. Outbreaks can involve a few cases (a foodborne illness cluster at a restaurant) or many thousands (a measles outbreak in an unvaccinated community); rapid investigation and response are critical to preventing spread.
Questions About Outbreak
How do you pronounce the word 'outbreak'?
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Say it like this: OWT-brayk. The first part sounds like "owt" (rhymes with "out"), and the second part sounds like "brake" (the thing that stops a car). Put the stress on that first syllable—OWT-brayk—so it sounds stronger than the second part.
What are the two syllables in 'outbreak'?
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The word breaks into two syllables: out-break. The first syllable is "out" and the second is "break." When you say them together, you slide right from one to the other without stopping.
Which syllable gets the stress in 'outbreak'?
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The first syllable gets the stress: OWT-brayk. A common mistake is putting the stress on the second syllable and saying it like "out-BRAYK," but that's not correct. Remember to say it a little louder and longer on that first "OWT" part.
What does 'outbreak' mean in plain English?
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An outbreak is when a disease suddenly appears and spreads among a group of people in one place, or happens much more often than usual. It's like when something unexpected pops up and catches people's attention.
Can you use 'outbreak' in a sentence?
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Sure! Here's an example: "Health officials announced an outbreak of food poisoning linked to the local restaurant." You can also say: "The outbreak affected several schools in the area."
Is there a short form or abbreviation for 'outbreak'?
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There's no standard abbreviation for the word "outbreak" itself. However, you might see it shortened informally in writing as "OB," but this is not widely used in medical communication.
What are related words that sound similar to 'outbreak'?
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Related words include "break," "out," and "break out." In fact, outbreak comes from combining these two words together—when something "breaks out," it suddenly appears or spreads, just like an outbreak of disease.
What's a common mispronunciation of 'outbreak'?
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Some people say "out-BRAYKE" (stressing the second syllable and adding an extra sound at the end), but the correct way is "OWT-brayk" with the stress on the first syllable. Another mistake is running the two syllables together too quickly without clearly saying "out" and "break."