2 syllables: car, go. Stress on car.
/ˈkɑɹɡoʊ/
Say it backCargo refers to goods transported for shipment, typically by ship, aircraft, train, or truck. It can also describe a load or freight carried during travel. The term frequently appears in logistics, shipping, and commerce contexts, and is often contrasted with passengers or passengers' baggage.
"The cargo was unloaded from the ship after a two-week voyage."
"Air cargo demands careful handling due to its perishable or valuable contents."
"The truck’s cargo included electronics and clothing for the distribution center."
You say CAHR-go with the primary stress on the first syllable. In US English: /ˈkɑːrɡoʊ/ or /ˈkɑrɡoʊ/; UK: /ˈkɑːɡəʊ/; Australian: /ˈkɑːɡoʊ/ with a clear 'ar' as in 'car' and 'go' as in 'go'. Mouth: start with an open back unrounded 'a' sound, raise the back of the tongue for 'r', then finish with a light 'go' /ɡoʊ/. Note the 'r' is rhotic in US/ AU; UK often non-rhotic in careful speech when not followed by a vowel, but in cargo the 'r' is pronounced due to subsequent vowel.” ,
Common errors: 1) Pronouncing as CAH-go with a flat or short 'a' like cat; correct is the broad 'a' as in car in many dialects. 2) Dropping the 'r' in rhotic accents; keep the /r/ sound in US and AU; in careful UK speech you still hear the /r/ before a vowel in some contexts. 3) Slurring the second syllable to a neutral schwa; keep the /oʊ/ glide to create CAHR-go. Corrections: practice with a carrier phrase, exaggerate the first syllable vowel, ensure the /r/ is voiced before the /ɡoʊ/; finish with a clear /oʊ/ glide.” ,
In US, you hear /ˈkɑːrɡoʊ/ with rhotic /r/ and a long, rounded 'o' in the second syllable. In UK, /ˈkɑːɡəʊ/ often features a non-rhotic r, turning the second syllable into /ɡəʊ/ or /ɡə͡ʊ/ with a clearer diphthong; the first vowel is similar but the r is less pronounced in careful speech. Australian tends toward /ˈkɑːɡoʊ/ with rhoticity growing in casual speech; the vowel quality resembles US, but the r may be softer or less aspirated. Across dialects, the key differences involve rhoticity and the second syllable vowel quality.” ,
Because of the consonant cluster and vowel sequence: the first syllable requires a tense back vowel before a resonant /r/; the second syllable uses a rising diphthong /oʊ/ after a hard /ɡ/ closure. Non-rhotic speakers may omit or soften the /r/ in some contexts, making cargo sound like /ˈkɑːɡəʊ/ rather than /ˈkɑːrɡoʊ/. Additionally, the transition between /r/ and /ɡ/ can create a brief vowel reduction if not held; practice keeping the /r/ audible (US/AU) and maintaining the /oʊ/ glide in all dialects.” ,
Word-specific point: keep a crisp, strong /ɡ/ immediately after the /r/ or /ɑː/ in the first syllable, avoiding a unintended /ɡ/ followed by a vowel hiatus. The primary challenge is the /ˈkɑːrɡoʊ/ vs /ˈkɑːɡəʊ/ variation; aim for a clean /r/ with an immediate /ɡ/ before the final /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ diphthong. Ensure the first syllable has the full back vowel (as in car) and that the second syllable has a full /oʊ/ glide to close the word clearly.” ,
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Etymology: Cargo derives from the earlier Old French word cargaison, which meant a shipload or freight; this entered English via medieval maritime trade. The root carg- is linked to cargo, weight, or charge, with Proto-Germanic cognates also contributing to the sense of load or burden. The term evolved from a general loading idea to a technical term in shipping and logistics, especially as international trade expanded. By the 16th century, cargo referred specifically to freight on ships, and later extended to air and land transport. The word’s usage reflects commercial and logistical practices that required precise terminology for goods carried, as opposed to passengers.
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Words that rhyme with "cargo"
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