2 syllables: Bad, ger. Stress on Bad.
BAJ-ur
/ˈbædʒɚ/
Badger is pronounced BAJ-ur (/ˈbædʒɚ/). It has two syllables (Bad-ger), with the stress on "Bad". Badger is a small carnivorous mammal with a heavy body, short legs, and a distinct facial mask; it also means to repeatedly nag or pester someone. In common usage, it can refer to the animal or the act of pestering. The term is frequently encountered in both zoological and colloquial contexts, often conveying persistence rather than aggression.
nounBadger is a small carnivorous mammal with a heavy body, short legs, and a distinct facial mask; it also means to repeatedly nag or pester someone. In common usage, it can refer to the animal or the act of pestering. The term is frequently encountered in both zoological and colloquial contexts, often conveying persistence rather than aggression.
- You might pronounce the /dʒ/ as a hard /d/ followed by /ʒ/ (like “bad-zh-er”). Fix: fuse /d/ and /ʒ/ into a single affricate /dʒ/ with a quick release into the following vowel. - The second syllable often reduces to a schwa or is omitted in fast speech. Practice keeping a light, short vowel: /ˈbædʒər/. - Over-articulation on the second syllable can make the word sound two separate syllables in careful speech; aim for a smooth glide between /dʒ/ and /ə/. - Confusion with “badge” due to spelling; ensure the final schwa or reduced vowel is present to avoid a trailing “g” or “r” sound in non-rhotic accents.
How to Pronounce Badger
"The badger rummaged through the farmyard looking for grubs."
"Stopping the neighbor from badgering me about the project took a firm boundary."
"A badger’s burrow is called a sett, and it can be quite extensive."
Pronounce it as /ˈbædʒ.ər/ in US and UK English. The first syllable carries primary stress: BADJ-ər. The /dʒ/ is like the j in justice, followed by a schwa in the second syllable in many dialects: /ˈbædʒ.ər/. For Australian, you’ll hear a similar pattern with a slightly tighter vowel in the first syllable and a muted second syllable: /ˈbæd.dʒə/. Listen for a quick but clear /dʒ/ blend and a post-vocalic /ər/ or /ə/ depending on accent.
Two common mistakes are mispronouncing the /dʒ/ as a simple /dj/ or /z/ so it sounds like ‘bad-jer’ instead of the smooth /dʒ/ blend, and dropping the second syllable’s vowel in fast speech, producing /ˈbædʒr/ or /ˈbædʒə/. To correct: keep the /dʒ/ as a single affricate, briefly pause before the second syllable, and release the final /ər/ with a light, relaxed jaw. Practicing the two-syllable flow helps natural rhythm.
In US English, the second syllable often has a reduced vowel, sounding like /ˈbædʒər/. UK pronunciation can be /ˈbædʒə(r)/ with a stronger schwa and sometimes a more clipped final /ɜː/ in careful speech. Australian typically aligns with /ˈbædʒə/ or /ˈbæd.dʒə/ with a less pronounced rhoticity and a smoother transition between syllables. Overall, the initial /bædʒ/ is consistent; the variation lies in the second syllable vowel quality and rhoticity.
The difficulty centers on the /dʒ/ affricate blending with the following vowel and avoiding a separate “d” and “zh” sound. Learners often insert an intrusive vowel or split /dʒ/ into /d/ + /ʒ/. Smooth articulation requires keeping the tongue high for the affricate, releasing quickly into a compact second syllable. Also, in fast speech, the second syllable can reduce to a near-schwa, which can obscure the word’s spelling-representation relationship.
The word’s animal sense is a common target for pronunciation practice because of its brief, punchy first syllable followed by a reduced second syllable. You’ll often hear native speakers compress it in rapid dialogue, sounding like /ˈbædʒə/ in casual speech. When using as a verb, keep the stress on the first syllable to retain the word’s momentum and prevent it from sounding like a separate syllable (“bad-ger”).
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- US: non-rhoticity is common? Actually US is rhotic; pronounce /ər/ with a rhotic consonant [ɚ] or [ɝ] depending on region. The second syllable tends toward a rhotic schwa. - UK: often shorter, with a less pronounced r; /ˈbædʒə/ or /ˈbædʒə(ɹ)/ in careful speech; the second syllable is lighter and can be reduced. - AU: non-rhotic tendency? Australian English is rhotic but softer; /ˈbæd.dʒə/ with slight vowel centralization, and a clipped second syllable. IPA references: US /ˈbædʒər/, UK /ˈbædʒə/, AU /ˈbæd.dʒə/. - Practical tip: practice with a mirror to monitor lip rounding for /dʒ/; aim for a clean, single-effort affricate release. - Focus on the transition from /dʒ/ to the vowel; avoid inserting a separate /ɪ/ or /ə/ after the /dʒ/.
Badger originates from the Old French word bacheler (to harass), though its exact lineage to English is debated. The animal name likely derives from Old French basseour or bache, linked to a “to beat, chase” conceptual root. In Middle English, badger appeared as badger(e) meaning ‘to persecute’ or ‘to nag’, paralleling the animal’s reputation for persistent digging and nagging behavior. The animal sense solidified in English by the 14th century, with the verb sense of harassment appearing more commonly in the 16th century as a metaphorical use. The word’s pejorative connotation grew in idiomatic English to describe relentless pestering. First known uses appear in medieval bestiaries and fables where the badger symbolized tenacity and stubborn pursuit, traits that translate well to modern “badgering” as persistent questioning or pressure.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Badger" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Badger"
-ger sounds
-er? sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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