2 syllables: bold, er. Stress on bold.
BOHL-dur
/ˈboʊldɚ/
bolder is pronounced BOHL-dur (/ˈboʊldɚ/). It has two syllables (bold-er), with the stress on "bold". Bolder is the comparative form of bold, meaning more courageous, daring, or visually striking. It describes actions, choices, or designs that push boundaries or take greater risks. In use, it can refer to personality, style, or decisions that stand out due to confidence or intensity.
Bolder is the comparative form of bold, meaning more courageous, daring, or visually striking. It describes actions, choices, or designs that push boundaries or take greater risks. In use, it can refer to personality, style, or decisions that stand out due to confidence or intensity.
"She chose a bolder color for the living room to create a dramatic focal point."
"The designer's latest collection is bolder, with sharper lines and brighter hues."
"He spoke in a bolder voice after gaining the audience's trust."
You pronounce it as /ˈboʊldər/. The primary stress falls on the first syllable, which rhymes with 'to bowl' followed by a schwa-r ending. The sequence /ld/ is a light, pressed consonant cluster before the /ər/ rhotacized ending in US speech. Tip: make a clean /oʊ/ diphthong, then close with /ld/ without breaking the tongue position for the following /ər/. Listen for a smooth transition between /d/ and schwa + r-stroke in rhotic accents.
Common errors include shortening the /oʊ/ to a simple /o/ and adding an extra vowel before /r/ (e.g., /ˈboʊl.dəɹ/ vs /ˈboʊldər/). Another mistake is mispronouncing the /ld/ cluster as /l/ + /r/ or introducing an intrusive /ɪ/ between /l/ and /d/. Correction: maintain the tight /ld/ sequence with a quick, clean stop before the schwa + r, and ensure the /r/ is only present in rhotic accents when followed by a vowel.
In US and Canadian rhotic accents, the final /ər/ is a rhotic schwa with a clear 'er' sound; /ˈboʊldər/. In many UK varieties, the /r/ is non-rhotic when not followed by a vowel, but in careful speech or before a vowel, you can hear a slight linking /ə/ and a weak /r/. The Australian variant tends toward a non-rhotic /r/ as well, but vowel quality in /oʊ/ can be closer to /əʊ/ in some regions; the stress remains on the first syllable. Practicing with minimal pairs helps solidify the rhoticity and vowel differences.
The difficulty comes from the consonant cluster /ld/ immediately after a long diphthong /oʊ/, which requires tight tongue control and precise timing to avoid an extraneous vowel. Additionally, producing the final /ər/ smoothly in non-rhotic varieties can be challenging, as it often changes to a schwa with little or no 'r' color. Mastery involves aligning the lip rounding for /oʊ/, the tongue blade for /l/ and /d/, and the retroflex or bunched /ɹ/ in rhotic speakers.
Yes—note the contrastive length between the /oʊ/ and the /ld/ sequence; you should finish the /oʊ/ before releasing into /ld/ without creating an extra vowel. The /ld/ should be concise and clipped, not encouraging a prolonged L or D. Finally, the /ər/ should be compact and non-overarticulated in rapid speech. This distinct rhythm, with a strong first syllable and a quick /ld/ transition, defines 'bolder' in fluent speech.
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Bold originates from the Old French bolz, bolr, from Latin fortis meaning strong, brave. The modern form bold emerged in Middle English as a metaphorical extension of strength of character to courage or impudence. The comparative bolder appeared in English by the 15th-16th centuries as a direct derivation of bold with the standard comparative suffix -er. Throughout its development, the semantic load shifted between physical daring and conspicuousness, eventually broadening to describe strong design choices, striking color or typography, and assertive behavior. First known uses surface in texts discussing courage and audacity in both personal conduct and stylistic decisions. By the 18th to 19th centuries, bolder also described visual appearance in art, fashion, and print, aligning with modern notions of risk-taking and prominence in aesthetics.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "bolder" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "bolder" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "bolder"
-der sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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