What is image? Pronunciation and usage in English

image means . Learn how to pronounce and use image through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of image

imagenoun

/ˈɪmɪdʒ/
Definition & pronunciation of image

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "image" in English. Here's a breakdown and some tips:

The Standard Pronunciation (American & British):

  • ih-MAJ (rhymes with "mayor")

Let's break that down further:

  • "i": Pronounced like the "i" in "bit" or "sit". A short, crisp "i" sound.
  • "m": Pronounced as you'd expect - like the letter "m."
  • "a": Pronounced like the "a" in "father" or "car."
  • "ge": Pronounced as "j" – like the beginning of “judge”.

Tips for getting it right:

  • Stress: The stress is on the second syllable ("MAJ"). This is the most important thing to get right.
  • Don’t over-elongate: It's a relatively quick, clipped pronunciation.
  • Listen to examples: The best way to learn is to hear it! Here are some resources:
    • Google Translate: Type "image" into Google Translate and click the speaker icon. (This is a reliable starting point).
    • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/image/ - This website provides audio pronunciations from native speakers.
    • YouTube: Search "how to pronounce image" on YouTube – you’ll find many videos demonstrating the pronunciation.

Common Mistakes:

  • Saying "i-maj": This is the most common mistake. Remember the "MAJ" emphasis.
  • Adding an extra "e" at the end: (e.g., "image-e") - This is incorrect.

Do you want me to:

  • Record myself saying "image"?
  • Give you some more example words to practice with?

Usage and examples with the word image in English

Let's break down how to use the word "image" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with several different meanings! Here's a breakdown categorized for clarity:

1. Visual Representation (Most Common)

  • Definition: A picture, a drawing, a photograph, or a visual representation of something.
  • Examples:
    • "I took a beautiful image of the sunset." (a photograph)
    • "The artist created a detailed image of a landscape." (a drawing)
    • "The image on the screen was blurry." (an electronic representation)
    • “She posted a new image on her Instagram.”

2. Impression or Idea (Figurative)

  • Definition: A mental picture or feeling someone has about something or someone. It’s the overall impression or how something appears to be.
  • Examples:
    • "He has a good image as a reliable businessman." (a positive reputation)
    • “The advertisement created a romantic image of the company’s product.” (a desired feeling)
    • "Her image of the city was completely wrong." (her mental picture)
    • “The government is trying to improve its image with the public.” (its public perception)

3. As a Verb (To Create or Project an Image)

  • Definition: To create a particular impression or appearance.
  • Examples:
    • "The company is trying to image a brand that is both innovative and trustworthy." (to create an impression)
    • “The movie images a dystopian future.” (to depict visually)
    • “He’s desperately trying to image himself as a successful athlete.” (to project an image)

4. In Technology (Scanning & Reproduction)

  • Definition: Specifically in photography and computer science, “image” refers to the digitized version of an image, often used in scanning or printing.
  • Examples:
    • "The scanner produced a high-resolution image of the document."
    • “The digital image was corrupted.”

5. In Psychology (Projected Self-Concept)

  • Definition: (More advanced) This refers to how a person perceives themselves, which then influences how they present themselves to others. It’s tied to self-concept, self-esteem, and identity.
  • Example: "His image of himself as a comedian is different from how people actually perceive him."

Here's a table summarizing the different uses:

Part of Speech Meaning Example
Noun Visual Picture "Take a picture of the image."
Noun Mental Impression "He has a good image of her."
Verb To Create an Impression "They want to image a strong brand."
Noun (Tech) Digitized Representation “The image was saved to the file.”

Tips for Using "Image" Correctly:

  • Context is key: Pay attention to how the word is being used in the sentence to understand its specific meaning.
  • Synonyms: Consider using synonyms like “picture,” “representation,” “impression,” “perception,” or “appearance” to avoid repetition and to be more precise.
  • Figurative language: Be mindful when using "image" in a figurative sense – it's often about conveying an overall feeling or idea, not just a literal picture.

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you thinking about using the word “image” in? (e.g., writing a story, having a conversation, solving a problem in a textbook?)

Synonyms for the word image

Idioms of the word image

be the image of somebody/something
to look very like somebody/something else
  • He's the image of his father.

Comment ()