2 syllables: Ce, dar. Stress on Ce.
SEE-dur
/ˈsidɚ/
Cedar is pronounced SEE-dur (/ˈsidɚ/). It has two syllables (Ce-dar), with the stress on "Ce". Cedar is a noun referring to either a type of tree in the genus Cedrus (notably Cedrus libani and Cedrus deodara) or to wood derived from these trees, known for its pleasant aroma, durability, and distinctive reddish-brown color. It can also describe a color similar to that wood. The term appears in botany, carpentry, and architecture contexts.
nounCedar is a noun referring to either a type of tree in the genus Cedrus (notably Cedrus libani and Cedrus deodara) or to wood derived from these trees, known for its pleasant aroma, durability, and distinctive reddish-brown color. It can also describe a color similar to that wood. The term appears in botany, carpentry, and architecture contexts.
"The cedar closet filled the room with a warm, resinous scent."
"Architects chose cedar siding for its natural beauty and resistance to decay."
"She stored the spices in cedar boxes to keep them fresh and aromatic."
Cedar is pronounced SIH-dər (US) or SEE-dər in some dialects; the primary stress sits on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU typically /ˈsiː.dɚ/ or /ˈsiː.də/. In many American regional varieties, the second syllable features a schwa. Listen for a clear initial long E sound, followed by a relaxed schwa and a post-tonic rhotacized ending in rhotic accents. You’ll hear it as two crisp syllables: SEE-der or SIH-der depending on region.
Common errors include reducing it to one syllable (cedar as ‘seed’ or ‘ced’), and merging the second syllable too tightly, making /ˈsiːdɚ/ into a quick, unclear /ˈsiː.rə/. Focus on two distinct syllables with an unstressed, neutral vowel in the second position (schwa). Tip: keep an audible separation between /siː/ and /dɚ/, and round the lips slightly for the rhotic ending in US accents.
In US and Canada, /ˈsiː.dɚ/ with rhotic /ɚ/ ending; the second syllable is a relaxed schwa-like rhotic. In UK English, you may hear /ˈsiː.də/ with a non-rhotic ending and a shorter, more clipped second syllable. Australian English often mirrors US rhoticity but may show vowel quality shifts, sounding closer to /ˈsiː.də/ or a very light /ˈsiː.dɜː/. The initial long EE sound remains consistent, but rhotics and vowel durations vary slightly by region.
Difficulty stems from the two-syllable structure with a strong initial syllable and a reduced, unstressed second vowel. The /ɚ/ or /ə/ can be challenging for non-rhotic speakers, and the difference between American /ɚ/ and British /ə/ or /ɜː/ in some dialects requires careful vowel shaping and lip rounding. Practice maintaining a crisp, primary-stressed /siː/ while allowing the second syllable to relax into a soft vowel without swallowing it.
A distinctive aspect is the fronting of the initial /siː/ vowel to a long E and the lightly reduced second syllable with a rhotic or non-rhotic ending depending on accent. Some speakers may pronounce it as SEE-dah in non-rhotic British speech. Paying attention to the subtle vowel length on the first syllable and the schwa-like or reduced second vowel will help you land the word cleanly in most contexts.
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The word cedar traces to Old English ceder, from Latin cedrus, from Greek kedros, of uncertain origin, possibly related to a Semitic root referring to wood or resin. The classical cedar of Lebanon, a symbol of endurance, appears in biblical and ancient Near Eastern texts, and the species Cedrus libani was named by Linnaeus in the 18th century. Across European languages, cedrus cedrus or cedar retained its botanical sense while the wood’s distinctive scent and decay resistance broadened its metaphorical and architectural uses. The term’s broad semantic scope expanded from a botanical name to include wood-in-texture and color descriptions, with the idea of premium, long-lasting timber persisting into modern carpentry and interior design lexicons. First known uses in Latin and Greek texts describe the tree as a valuable and venerable timber source, transitioning to English references as European exploration and natural history documentation intensified in the late medieval and early modern periods. In contemporary English, cedar refers both to the living tree and to timber products used in construction, cabinetry, and scent-infused products, preserving poetic and practical associations with strength and enduring fragrance.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Cedar" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Cedar" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Cedar"
-her sounds
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