Another is a determiner and pronoun meaning an additional person or thing; in everyday use it signals one more of something or refers to a different item. It often appears in phrases like “another day” or “another way,” and the stress and vowel quality shift subtly with context. It functions across formal and informal registers, adapting to the sentence role (modifier vs. pronoun) while remaining highly common in spoken English.
"I’d like another cup of coffee, please."
"We’ll try another approach to solve the problem."
"She arrived at the party, and another joined soon after."
"If this door doesn’t close, we’ll need another one.”"
The word another comes from Old English another, composed of an- (an = one) + other (comparable to Old English oþer, from Proto-Germanic *antharaz, meaning ‘other, second in a pair’). Its basic sense developed to denote a further instance or an additional item. The form is related to other words in the same semantic field (other, otherwise) and shared a long history of usage in Germanic languages. In Middle English, anothre or other, the sense of “an additional one” was already present, often followed by a definite or indefinite article. By the Early Modern English period, another had become a stable, stand-alone determiner/pronoun used in a broad range of contexts, from everyday speech to literary style. Over centuries, pronunciation drift led to a reduction of the vowel in the second syllable and a tendency toward a reduced schwa in connected speech, a pattern still noticeable in natural speech today. Today, another remains one of the most common functional words in English, vital for talking about quantity, alternatives, and enumeration, while retaining flexibility across registers and dialects.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Another" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Another" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Another" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Another"
-ers sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce it as ə-ˈnə-ðər or ə-ˈnɔː-ðəɹ in many speakers. The primary stress sits on the second syllable: /ə-ˈnʌð-ər/ in US English, with a clear /ð/ in the middle and an /ər/ ending. In rapid speech, the vowels may reduce: /əˈnəðə/ or /ɚˈnɒðə/. Use the air flow to voice the interdental /ð/ and keep the /r/ soft or rhotic depending on accent. Audio references: consider listening to native speech via Pronounce or YouGlish to hear homeland variance.
Common mistakes include stressing the first syllable (A-NO-ther) and mispronouncing /ð/ as /d/ or /z/. Another frequent error is the final /r/ being over-emphasized in non-rhotic accents. Correct by practicing the center syllable /nð/ with a light, continuous air, and keep /ər/ close to a neutral schwa plus rhotic release only if your accent requires it. Use minimal pairs to tune: another vs. a-nother (incorrect split), another vs. an author (different clusters).
In US English, you’ll hear ə-ˈnʌð-ər with a clearly enunciated /ð/ and rhotic /r/. UK English often reduces the final /r/ (non-rhotic), sounding like ə-ˈnʌð-ə. Australian English is typically rhotic but with a softer /ɜː/ or /ə/ in the final syllable, producing ə-ˈnɔːðə or ə-ˈnænə depending on the speaker. The primary differences center on rhoticity of /r/ and vowel quality in the first and second syllables, as well as whether /ð/ is dentalized and audible.
The difficulty lies in the rapid sequence: a schwa or reduced vowel on the first syllable, then a light, dental /ð/ in the middle, followed by a rhotic or non-rhotic ending. Muscular coordination is required to avoid overpronouncing the middle consonant or blurring the /ð/ into /d/ or /z/. The subtlety of the English /ð/ sound and the potential vowel reduction in connected speech are common stumbling blocks, especially for non-native speakers. Repetition with cues helps anchor the tongue and airflow.
A distinctive aspect is the variability of the first vowel with speech rate and dialect. While many speakers use a reduced /ə/ on the first syllable, some regional varieties may subtly raise or front the /ə/ toward /ɪ/ or /ʌ/ depending on adjacent sounds and emphasis. Paying attention to the transition from /ə/ to /n/ and keeping the /ð/ firm but not overemphasized helps keep the word natural across contexts.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Another"!
No related words found
