One syllable: Bark.
bahrk
/bɑɹk/
Bark is pronounced bahrk (/bɑɹk/). It has one syllable (Bark), with the stress on "Bark". Bark (noun) refers to the hard outer covering of a tree, or the sharp, abrupt sound made by a dog or certain animals. It can also mean a bold, brusque manner. In trees it denotes the protective layer surrounding the trunk and branches; as a sound, it conveys alertness or aggression. The word is common in everyday description and animal communication contexts.
nounBark (noun) refers to the hard outer covering of a tree, or the sharp, abrupt sound made by a dog or certain animals. It can also mean a bold, brusque manner. In trees it denotes the protective layer surrounding the trunk and branches; as a sound, it conveys alertness or aggression. The word is common in everyday description and animal communication contexts.
How to Pronounce Bark
"The tree’s bark peels in patches after the winter frost."
"The dog let out a loud bark when the mail carrier arrived."
"She snapped, with a bark of frustration that surprised everyone."
Pronunciation is /bɑrk/ in US and UK, with the same vowel sound as ‘car’ but shorter and with a hard final /k/. Start with a low back lax vowel /ɑ/ (jaw lowered, tongue mid-back), then a crisp /r/ and finish with a strong /k/ release. Audio reference: imagine the dog’s bark in a quiet yard—short, forceful, and dry. IPA: US /bɑrk/, UK /bɑːk/; AU often /bɑːk/ as well. Mouth position: open jaw, relaxed lips, but firm vowel onset, then rapid velar closure for /k/.
Common mistakes: 1) Dropping the final /k/ leading to /bɑr/ or /bɑː/; ensure a crisp velar stop at word end. 2) Vowel length confusion; avoid a prolonged /ɑː/ in US; aim for a short, tense /ɑ/ before /rk/. 3) Mispronouncing /r/ in non-rhotic UK accents; in UK, you may de-emphasize rhoticity, but in many dialects you’ll still hear a light /ɹ/ transitioning to the /k/. Practice closing with a clear /k/ release for precise articulation.
US: rhotic /ɹ/ blends quickly into /ɑrk/, with a clear /ɑ/ as in ‘father.’ UK: non-rhotic tendencies show less pronounced /ɹ/ before vowels; final /k/ remains crisp. AU: similar to UK but with broader vowel quality, often a more open /ɑ/ and slightly longer vowel before /k/. Across these, the key is the /ɑ/ vowel quality and the hard /k/ release; rhotics vary in strength and coarticulation before /rk/.
The challenge lies in a precise, single-syllable structure with a crisp velar stop. The /ɑ/ vowel sits low and back, which can clash with an immediate /r/ and the abrupt /k/ closure. Coarticulation makes the /r/ influence the preceding vowel in some accents, and the final /k/ demands a strong, clean release to avoid trailing sounds. Focus on sealing your mouth for /k/ while keeping the tongue steady for /ɑ/ and a quick, light retroflex /ɹ/ if your dialect requires it.
Yes—it's the combination of a short, back open vowel /ɑ/ with a tight, abrupt velar stop /k/. Many learners overlengthen the vowel or soften the final /k/ to /t/ or /ɪ/; keep the vowel compact and the /k/ released. The word’s monosyllabic stress makes each segment highly salient, so practicing with minimal pairs and a strong breath support helps you land the full, sharp /k/ without voicing after the release.
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Bark originates from Old English beorcan or beorcan, related to Old Norse barkr and Proto-Germanic *berkanan, connected to burning or tearing. The sense of the tree’s outer layer emerges in the 14th century as a metaphorical extension from the idea of a protective wrapping around something, akin to a “covering” or “cover.” The canine sense of barking as a sharp, abrupt sound appears in Middle English, influenced by unison with animal vocalization onomatopoeia. Over time, bark solidified as both a natural feature of trees and a phonation-related term describing a dog’s vocalization. First known uses include references to tree bark in agricultural descriptions and to a dog’s bark in literature of medieval England, evolving through modern times to common usage in both scientific and colloquial contexts. The etymology demonstrates polysemy driven by sensory metaphor: protective outer layer and the explosive vocal sound share a root concept of boundary and alertness.
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Help others use "Bark" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Bark" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Bark" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Bark"
-ark sounds
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