2 syllables: Cha, kra. Stress on Cha.
CHAK-ruh
/ˈtʃækɹə/
Chakra is pronounced CHAK-ruh (/ˈtʃækɹə/). It has two syllables (Cha-kra), with the stress on "Cha". Chakra is a noun referring to each of the seven centers of spiritual energy in the body, traditionally associated with specific physiological and psychological functions. In yoga and Hindu philosophy, chakras are energy wheels that influence vitality, awareness, and balance. The term is often used in wellness contexts to discuss personal growth, meditation, and spiritual practices.
nounChakra is a noun referring to each of the seven centers of spiritual energy in the body, traditionally associated with specific physiological and psychological functions. In yoga and Hindu philosophy, chakras are energy wheels that influence vitality, awareness, and balance. The term is often used in wellness contexts to discuss personal growth, meditation, and spiritual practices.
How to Pronounce Chakra
"She explored the chakras during her meditation, focusing on balance and breath,”"
"The teacher explained how activating the throat chakra can improve self-expression."
"He wore a pendant aimed at aligning the heart chakra for emotional harmony."
Pronounce as CHAK-ra, with primary stress on CHAK. IPA: US/UK/AU /ˈtʃæk.rə/. Start with an aspirated /t͡ʃ/ as in chair, follow with a short /æ/ as in cat, then a light /k/ release and a schwa /ə/ for the second syllable. The second syllable is unstressed and reduced. Keep the tongue high at the start and drop to a neutral vowel for the second syllable. Audio reference: /ˈtʃæk.rə/ (like “chak” + “ruh”).
Common errors: 1) Slurring the second syllable by turning it into a full vowel (e.g., /ˈtʃæk.ræ/). 2) Misplacing the /æ/ and /aɪ/; avoid a long vowel like /eɪ/. 3) Not allowing the /k/ to be released crisply after /æ/; ensure a brief release into the schwa. Correction: keep CHAK as /t͡ʃæk/ with a clean, quick /k/ into /r/ then /ə/. Practice with minimal pairs to stabilize the vowel quantity and syllable boundary.
US/UK/AU share /ˈtʃæk.rə/ for chakra, but vowel quality on the second syllable can vary slightly: US tends to a more centered /ə/; UK may show a slightly lighter /ə/ with less rhoticity influence; AU often mirrors US speech with a compact /ə/ and crisp final /rə/ cluster. Stress remains on the first syllable. The main differences are subtle vowel height and rhotic coloring; none changes the syllable count or overall word shape.
Chakra challenges include the two-consonant cluster /k/ released after /æ/ and the quick transition into a reduced second syllable /rə/. The second syllable is unstressed and reduced, which can be unfamiliar if your mother tongue favors full vowels in unstressed syllables. Additionally, some speakers compress /t͡ʃ/ and /æ/ sounds in rapid speech, producing /t͡ʃæk.rə/ with less crisp /k/ release or a misarticulated /ɹ/ in certain dialects.
Chakra combines a fortis affricate onset /t͡ʃ/ with a short front vowel /æ/ and a postconsonantal /k/ release into a reduced /rə/. The pairing of a strong initial cluster with a weak, unstressed second syllable makes the word particularly susceptible to slurring or misplacing stress in fast speech. Also, many learners anticipate a longer first vowel or add an extra vowel before /r/; stay with /ˈt͡ʃæk.rə/ for naturalness.
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Chakra comes from the Sanskrit chakra (cakradh), meaning a wheel, disk, or circle. The term appears in ancient Hindu and Buddhist texts, where chakras are described as energy centers within the subtle body. In Sanskrit, chakra denotes a wheel or circle, symbolizing continual movement and energy flow. The concept appeared in Vedic literature and has since proliferated in yogic, tantric, and modern wellness literature. The idea of chakras as wheels of energy was formalized in later Indian philosophical systems, with six-plus systems proposing seven primary chakras aligned along the spine. In English, chakra entered popular culture through translations of yoga and Ayurveda discourse in the 19th and 20th centuries, gaining mainstream traction in the West in the late 20th century with the rise of New Age and holistic health movements. The first known English usage traces to scholarly and popular writings on yoga and Indian philosophy, where the term retained its original sense of wheel-like energy centers, later expanding to metaphorical uses in wellness contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Chakra" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Chakra"
-ker sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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