2 syllables: bon, dage. Stress on bon.
BAHN-dij
/ˈbɑndɪdʒ/
bondage is pronounced BAHN-dij (/ˈbɑndɪdʒ/). It has two syllables (bon-dage), with the stress on "bon". Bondage refers to the state of being bound or restrained, whether physically, legally, or metaphorically. It denotes a condition of restriction or servitude, often implying lack of freedom, and can apply to bondage in historical, social, or personal contexts. The term carries connotations of control and constraint that can be literal (ties, confinement) or figurative (economic or political subjugation).
Bondage refers to the state of being bound or restrained, whether physically, legally, or metaphorically. It denotes a condition of restriction or servitude, often implying lack of freedom, and can apply to bondage in historical, social, or personal contexts. The term carries connotations of control and constraint that can be literal (ties, confinement) or figurative (economic or political subjugation).
"The prisoners were kept in bondage for years under harsh guard conditions."
"She spoke about overcoming bondage of debt and gaining financial independence."
"The contract imposed a form of bondage that limited his ability to switch jobs."
You say BON-dij, with two syllables and primary stress on the first. IPA: US/UK/AU ˈbɒn.dɪdʒ. Start with the /b/ sound, then the open back rounded /ɒ/ as in 'lot', then /n/. The second syllable uses /dʒ/ as in 'judge' after a light /ɪ/ or schwa; some speakers reduce the vowel slightly to /ɪ/ or /ə/. End with /dʒ/ for the affricate. Keep the jaw slightly relaxed, tongue high for /ɒ/ and raise the blade to form /dʒ/ just before finishing. You’ll hear a crisp onset and a smooth, clipped second syllable.
Common errors: misplacing stress (say BON-age with heavy first vibrance on ‘bond’), mispronouncing the final /dʒ/ as /d/ or /tʃ/, and using a long /iː/ in the second syllable. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable /ˈbɒn-/; for the second syllable, use /dʒ/ as in 'judge' and a short, lax vowel like /ɪ/ or schwa /ə/ so it sounds like /dɪdʒ/ or /də.dʒ/. Practice by isolating the vowel and consonant sequence: /n/ to /dʒ/ transition should be smooth with a brief, light vowel.
US/UK/AU share the core /ˈbɒn.dɪdʒ/, but rhotic variations can affect the vowel quality. In non-rhotic accents, the r is not pronounced, but /ɒ/ remains similar; US speakers may reduce /ɒ/ toward /ɑ/ in some dialects, UK speakers may keep a clearer /ɒ/; AU speakers typically maintain /ɒ/ with mild sky-blue vowel quality. The final /dʒ/ remains consistently voiced; the main variation lies in the first vowel’s height and backness and in whether the /ɪ/ is a clear vowel or a reduced schwa in fast speech.
Two challenges stand out: the tight ligature between /n/ and /dʒ/ and the short, lax vowel in the second syllable. The /dʒ/ is an affricate that blends quickly with a preceding alveolar /n/, so you need a smooth tongue transition learned via minimal pairs. The second syllable often uses a reduced vowel in rapid speech, which can blur the /dɪdʒ/ sequence. Practice with slow drills focusing on the /n/ to /dʒ/ boundary and maintain a crisp /dʒ/ release.
The word’s combination of a stressed first syllable and a voiced affricate at the boundary creates a crisp, two-part rhythm: strong onset /bɒn/ followed by a quick /dɪdʒ/. It’s also voiceless vs voiced interaction: the /n/ remains nasal, then the /d/ initiates the /dʒ/; the boundary demands precise timing to avoid a “bond-age” misstep where the second syllable sounds detached. Focus on the /n/->/dʒ/ link and the late-placed vocal fold vibration.
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Bondage comes from Old French bondage, from bond, meaning a tie or binding, and suffixes denoting condition or state. Its roots lie in Latin vinculum, meaning a bond or chain; through Old French bouner, bouder, and English bondage, the sense expanded from physical binding to a broader state of servitude or obligation. In Middle English, bondage appeared in legal and social contexts, often referring to the servitude of serfs or prisoners. Over time, the word broadened to include abstract restraints—economic, contractual, or social obligations—while retaining the core idea of constraint, with first known usages recorded in medieval legal narratives and philosophical discussions about liberty and governance. By the modern era, bondage commonly appears in discussions of human rights, labor law, and cultural studies, sometimes carrying charged or erotic connotations depending on the context, but historically anchored in the notion of binding force or constraint. The evolution reflects changing conceptions of power, freedom, and the many forms a “bond” can take, from physical fetters to the binding force of law, debt, or social expectation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "bondage" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "bondage"
-age sounds
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