2 syllables: bra, cket. Stress on bra.
/ˈbrækɪt/
Say it backA bracket is a symbol used to enclose or set off text, numbers, or equations, typically in pairs such as [ ] or { }. It also refers to a category or grouping in a system (e.g., age bracket). In technical writing and typography, brackets indicate optional or supplementary material. The term can also describe an architectural support or a competition division in tournaments.
"Place the citation in square brackets after the sentence [Smith, 2020]."
"The recipe calls for brackets to list optional ingredients {e.g., nuts or seeds}."
"In the tournament, players are divided into age brackets for fairness."
Pronounce it as /ˈbræ.kɪt/ in US and UK IPA. The stress falls on the first syllable: BRACK-it. The mouth starts with a short front open vowel in 'bra-' followed by a light, quick 'k' and a short 'it' ending. Think of the word 'brat' with a -ket ending, but with a clean final 't' and a lighter 'k' before it.
Common errors: 1) Reducing the first syllable to a schwa or a lax vowel, like 'bruh-ket' instead of /ˈbræ.kɪt/. 2) Dropping the final 't' or turning it into a 'd' sound in rapid speech. 3) Misplacing the Stress, saying /ˈbræ.kɪt/ with even stress or stressing the second syllable. Correction: keep the strong first-syllable stress, use a crisp /t/ at the end, and keep the middle /ɪ/ short.
In US and UK, /ˈbræ.kɪt/ with rhoticity not affecting vowel quality; US may be slightly more tense on the first syllable, UK may be marginally shorter vowel duration. Australian English keeps /ˈbrækɪt/ but with a less pronounced vowel length difference and a more centralized first vowel in some speakers. Overall, the vowel is short æ, and the final syllable uses a clear, unreleased or lightly released /t/ depending on pace.
The challenge lies in the short front lax vowel /æ/ followed quickly by a voiceless alveolar stop /t/, with a cluster that can trigger vowel shortening. The middle /ɪ/ in the second syllable is quick and can blur in connected speech. Practicing with rapid, light articulations helps: keep the tongue high-front for /æ/, then release into a crisp /k/ + /ɪ/ + /t/ sequence.
Focus on the transition from /æ/ to /k/ and then /ɪ/. The 'k' is not a full stop; it should connect smoothly to the following /ɪ/ without a hyphenated split. Keep the final /t/ crisp, not aspirated, unless you’re emphasizing the word. Position your tongue for /æ/ with the jaw fairly low, then quickly raise for the /k/ release and the short /ɪ/ before /t/.
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Bracket comes from the Old French brachet, a diminutive of brache or braquet, meaning a small hook or projection. The term appears in English in the 16th century in contexts of mechanical supports or hooks. By the 17th century, bracket was used in architectural and carpentry senses to describe projecting supports. In typography, bracket notation evolved as printers adopted brackets to group text or indicate optional material. The modern sense of square and curly brackets, used to enclose text, emerged as printing conventions expanded to include editorial marks and mathematical notation. The word’s development tracks a shift from physical supports to symbolic enclosures, with the sense of grouping or delimiting content becoming standard in academic, legal, and computer contexts by the 20th century. First known uses cite bracket in mechanical or architectural senses; by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, abstract notation and bracketed lists became common in printed text and mathematics. The term has since expanded into computing and programming, where brackets structure arrays, functions, and conditional blocks, retaining the original connotation of enclosure and grouping.
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Help others use "bracket" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "bracket" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "bracket" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "bracket"
-ket sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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