Amateur (noun): a person who engages in a pursuit more for enjoyment than for professional or financial gain; often someone who is not highly skilled or trained. The term can carry neutral, affectionate, or occasionally pejorative connotations, depending on context. In pronunciation, the word frequently receives stress on the first or second syllable depending on usage and region.
"She’s an amateur photographer who loves capturing sunrise silhouettes."
"The job requires a professional, not an amateur, level of expertise."
"Despite being an amateur in the kitchen, he cooked a surprisingly tasty dinner."
"The club welcomed both amateurs and professionals to the weekend competition."
Amateur comes from Middle English amator, from Old French amateur, which itself derives from Latin amator ‘lover, friend, admirer,’ from amare ‘to love.’ The term originally described someone who pursues an activity for love rather than skill or profit. In 18th- and 19th-century English, it retained nuances of “lover of” the art. Over time, the word shifted to contrast the untrained “amateur” with the trained professional, often implying lesser skill. In modern usage, it covers a spectrum from enthusiastic hobbyist to person engaging in a field without formal credentials, while in some contexts it can be pejorative. First known usage in English traces to the 16th century through legal and literary texts reflecting the Latin root’s sense of love or fondness for an activity, evolving to denote involvement without official status or qualifications by the 18th century and settling into contemporary meaning by the 19th century.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Amateur" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Amateur" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Amateur"
-ure sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as AM-uh-ter with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA US: /ˈæ.mə.tʊr/ (or /ˈæ.məˌtɜːr/). UK: /ˈæ.mə.tjʊə/ or /ˈæ.mə.tʃʊə/. The rough mouth positions: start with an open front unrounded /æ/ as in 'cat,' then /ə/ a schwa, then /t/ followed by a rhotacized or non-rhotic ending depending on accent. Audio sample: listen to reputable dictionaries or pronunciation resources (Forvo, Pronounce, YouGlish) for region-specific realizations. Practice saying slowly: /ˈæ.mə.tʊr/ and gradually add natural speed while keeping vowel clarity.
Common mistakes: (1) Stress misplacement, saying /ˈæ.məˌtʊ(ə)r/ with too much emphasis on the second syllable; fix by keeping primary stress on the first syllable for most contexts. (2) Vowel substitutions, e.g., /æ/ replaced by /eɪ/ or /ə/ elongating the second syllable; correct by maintaining a short /ə/ in the second syllable and a clipped ‘ter’ ending. (3) Final /r/ mispronunciation in non-rhotic accents, leaving it off or muting; in rhotic accents, ensure the /r/ is pronounced softly; in non-rhotic contexts, end with a schwa or colorized vowel. Regular practice with minimal pairs helps: AM-uh-ter vs. AM-uh-tURE (stress and vowel length).
US tends to be rhotic with /ˈæ.mə.tʊr/ or /ˈæ.məˌtɜr/, a clear final /r/. UK often shows non-rhotic tendencies, with /ˈæ.mə.tjuːə/ or /ˈæ.mə.tjə/ in some accents; the second syllable can be schwa-like or a mid central /ə/ and the final vowel can be more centralized. Australian variants usually land between US and UK, often /ˈæ.mə.tjuːə/ or /ˈæ.mə.tər/ with some vowel flattening and reduced r-coloring in informal speech. Key differences: rhoticity (US yes, UK/some AU less pronounced), second syllable vowel quality ( /ə/ vs. /juː/ or /tjə/), and final vowel length. Listening to dialect guides and practicing with region-specific sentences helps solidify the distinctions.
Three main challenges: (1) The first vowel /æ/ followed by a neutral /ə/ in the second syllable can create a diphthong-like drift if spoken too quickly; keep it as a short /ə/ rather than elongating. (2) The final /r/ in rhotic accents and the lack thereof in non-rhotic ones makes consistency tricky; decide your target accent and practice the ending accordingly. (3) The cluster /tər/ or /tə/ can cause a light or swallowed /t/; emphasize clear /t/ before a rhotic or light /t/ followed by a relaxed /ə/ or /ər/. Practice with minimal pairs like amateur/amatour to stabilize the consonant and vowel transitions.
This is less about pronunciation and more about word choice, but it affects pronunciation when used in sentence rhythm. 'Amateur' is a noun (and adjective in 'amateur photographer'); stresses should align with the noun usage (first syllable). When followed by 'ish' as in 'amateurish,' the 'ish' adds a lighter, cropping sound in transition; keep final /ʃ/ clear. In compound phrases like 'amateur hour,' maintain the natural pause before the second word and avoid compressing the /h/.
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