2 syllables: bo, ther. Stress on bo.
BAH-thur
/ˈbɑðɚ/
bother is pronounced BAH-thur (/ˈbɑðɚ/). It has two syllables (bo-ther), with the stress on "bo". Bother is a transitive verb meaning to annoy or disturb someone, or to make trouble or unnecessary effort. In everyday usage, it often conveys mild irritation or concern, as in expressions of complaint or insistence. The word can also function as a polite intensifier in questions or requests, subtly signaling inconvenience. Overall, it centers on causing annoyance or extra effort.
Bother is a transitive verb meaning to annoy or disturb someone, or to make trouble or unnecessary effort. In everyday usage, it often conveys mild irritation or concern, as in expressions of complaint or insistence. The word can also function as a polite intensifier in questions or requests, subtly signaling inconvenience. Overall, it centers on causing annoyance or extra effort.
"What’s bothering you lately?"
"Don’t bother calling—I’ll be out all day."
"He didn’t bother to read the instructions."
Pronounce as two syllables: /ˈbɒð.ər/ in UK or /ˈbɑːðər/ in US. Primary stress on the first syllable. Start with a voiced bilabial stop /b/, then the rounded back open-mid vowel /ɒ/ (UK) or /ɑː/ (US), followed by the voiced dental fricative /ð/, then the schwa /ə/ for the final syllable and an rhotacized ending in US /ər/. Mouth positions: lips rounded slightly for /ɒ/ or /ɑː/, tongue blade between teeth for /ð/, vowels relaxed; keep the second syllable lighter.
Common errors: (1) Using /bɔː/ or /bɒ/ for the first vowel in US speakers, producing a mismatch with the unstressed second syllable. (2) Deleting or mispronouncing the /ð/ as a /d/ or /t/; maintain the voiced dental fricative by placing the tongue gently between the upper and lower teeth. (3) Running the two syllables together with a reduced second syllable; instead, give the second syllable a clear schwa and light stress, so it sounds like /ˈbɑːðər/ rather than /ˈbɑːðr/. Correcting helps you sound natural and fluent.
US pronunciation /ˈbɑːðər/ features a rhotic ending /ər/ with a clear schwa in unstressed syllable; the first vowel is a long open back /ɑː/. UK pronunciation /ˈbɒðə/ uses a shorter /ɒ/ in the first syllable and a reduced final /ə/; rhoticity is less pronounced; Australians typically imitate UK/US blends but may show slight vowel length variation and a broader /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ depending on region. The /ð/ remains consistent, but the quality of the preceding vowel and the final syllable vowel can shift subtly.
Two core challenges: the dental fricative /ð/ can be unfamiliar and difficult for many speakers; ensure you bring the tongue between the teeth and use voice rather than voicelessness. The first syllable vowel is tall and tense, requiring distinction between /ɑː/ and /ɒ/ in different dialects; keep the tongue low with relaxed lips. The final /ər/ in US is a rhotic vowel; practice the r-controlled ending without adding extra vowels, making the word flow naturally.
A key feature is the contrastive dental fricative /ð/ in the middle of a stressed first syllable, followed by a reduced /ə/ in the final syllable and an /ər/ ending in rhotic varieties. The combination of a stressed first syllable and a softer ending with a dental fricative can trip up non-native ears; focusing on keeping a crisp /ð/ and a light, quick /ə/ makes the word feel natural and fluent.
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Bother originates from the 14th century English verb botheren, meaning to disturb or annoy. It is likely related to bother and error-laden forms across Germanic languages. The sense of causing trouble or troublemaking appears in Middle English, with similar words in Dutch and German that refer to disturbance or annoyance. The modern spelling and pronunciation consolidates in the 16th and 17th centuries, where bother began to carry the common sense of ‘to annoy’ typical of informal speech. Over time, bother also took on a slightly milder, more casual nuance in American English, often used in polite phrases like ‘I don’t bother’ or ‘don’t bother me,’ which softened its impact. First known uses appear in personal letters and drama of the Renaissance period, expanding in everyday vernacular through 17th- and 18th-century literature. The word’s endurance in casual conversation reflects its practical function: a compact single-syllable verb that conveys minor irritation or effort without heavy formality. In contemporary English, bother remains versatile—applicable to small irritations, routine tasks, and polite refusals—while retaining its original core sense of causing disturbance or extra effort.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "bother" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "bother"
-her sounds
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