How to Pronounce Ergophobia
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Ergophobia Pronunciation
er-goh-FOH-bee-ah
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
er
goh
FOH
stress here
bee
ah
5 syllables
What is Ergophobia?
A persistent fear of work or the workplace environment, which goes beyond normal job stress and can lead to chronic avoidance of employment and significant financial and social consequences. It derives from the Greek "ergon," meaning work.
Questions About Ergophobia
How do you pronounce ergophobia?
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Ergophobia is pronounced er-goh-FOH-bee-ah. The stress falls on the third syllable, so you say it loudly: "FOH." The first part sounds like "er" (as in "her"), the second part rhymes with "go," and the last part ends with "bee-uh."
What syllables make up ergophobia?
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Ergophobia breaks into four syllables: er-go-pho-bia. Each part represents a different sound, making it easier to say the word slowly before speeding it up.
Which syllable gets the stress in ergophobia?
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The third syllable, "pho" (FOH), gets the stress—you say it louder and longer than the others. A common mistake is stressing the first syllable ("ER-go-foh-bee-ah") instead, which sounds incorrect.
What do the word parts of ergophobia mean?
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Ergophobia comes from two Greek roots: "ergon" means "work," and "phobos" means "fear." So the word literally puts together "work" + "fear" to create the full term.
What does ergophobia mean in plain English?
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Ergophobia is a strong, ongoing fear of work or working. It describes a fear that is much deeper than normal job stress or occasionally not wanting to go to work.
Are there other medical words that use the 'ergo-' root?
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Yes! Words like "ergonomics" (the study of how to make work more comfortable and efficient) and "ergometer" (a machine that measures work output) both use the Greek root "ergon." This helps you remember that "ergo" always relates to work.
What is a common mispronunciation of ergophobia?
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People often say "er-go-FOH-bee-uh" with equal stress on the first two syllables, or they stress the wrong syllable entirely. The correct way is to make "FOH" stand out: er-goh-FOH-bee-ah.
Can you use ergophobia in a simple sentence?
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Here's an example: "The doctor explained that her patient's ergophobia was affecting his ability to maintain employment." This sentence shows how the word is used in a medical or professional context.