How to Pronounce Fatigue

Fatigue is pronounced fah-TEEG. The first syllable sounds like 'fah' (rhymes with 'spa'), and the second syllable is 'TEEG' (rhymes with 'league'). The stress falls on the second syllable, which is said louder and longer than the first.

The second syllable—TEEG—is the stressed syllable and gets the emphasis when you say the word. Many people make the mistake of stressing the first syllable instead, but the correct pronunciation is fah-TEEG, not FAH-teeg.

Fatigue breaks into two syllables: fa-TIGUE. The first syllable is short and light, while the second syllable is longer and gets the stress.

Fatigue means extreme tiredness that doesn't go away with rest and makes it hard to do normal activities. It's more intense and lasting than just being tired after a busy day—it's an overwhelming kind of exhaustion.

In everyday speech, people often just say 'tiredness' or 'exhaustion' instead of 'fatigue.' However, in medical settings, doctors use the full word 'fatigue' because it describes a specific kind of deep, persistent tiredness.

Yes—the word 'fatigued' (pronounced fah-TEEGD) is the adjective form, meaning 'experiencing fatigue.' You can also see the root in the word 'fatigue duty' or 'fatigues' (a type of military clothing), which all come from the French and Latin root meaning 'to tire or weary.'

A common mistake is saying FAH-teeg (stressing the first syllable) or pronouncing it as fah-TWIG. The correct way is fah-TEEG, with the stress clearly on the second syllable, which sounds like 'teeg' (as in league).

Here's an example: 'After running a marathon, the athlete experienced muscle fatigue and needed several days to recover.' This shows how the word is used to describe a state of overwhelming tiredness in a medical or health context.