One syllable: Chore.
chawr
/tʃɔɹ/
Chore is pronounced chawr (/tʃɔɹ/). It has one syllable (Chore), with the stress on "Chore". Chore is a noun meaning a routine, often unpleasant, household task that must be done. It denotes a small, obligatory duty rather than a major project, and is typically recurring. The term conveys everyday, mundane labor rather than a task undertaken for leisure or challenge.
nounChore is a noun meaning a routine, often unpleasant, household task that must be done. It denotes a small, obligatory duty rather than a major project, and is typically recurring. The term conveys everyday, mundane labor rather than a task undertaken for leisure or challenge.
- You’ll often hear learners shorten the /ɔː/ to /ɒ/ (like 'cot'), which makes ‘chore’ sound like ‘chot’. To fix, lengthen your jaw open and keep the lips rounded during the vowel. - Some learners mispronounce the initial /tʃ/ as a hard /d/ or /tj/ cluster; practice the soft onset by starting with “ch” from ‘cheese’ and slide into the vowel in one smooth motion. - Final R issue: in non-rhotic accents you might drop the /r/; practice ending with a light, barely-there /ɹ/ or a vowel-only finish, ensuring the /ɔː/ remains long. - In rapid speech, you can lose the vowel length; slow down the vowel, then connect to the next word without shrinking the vowel. - Avoid adding a schwa before the vowel; the word should be crisp with /ɔː/.
"I spent Saturday doing chores like laundry and washing dishes."
"Her week was full of chores, from cleaning to grocery shopping."
"He grumbled about the chores he had to finish before guests arrived."
Chore is pronounced /tʃɔːr/ in US, UK, and AU. Start with the /tʃ/ blend as in 'chin', then a long open-mid back vowel /ɔː/ (like 'thought' without the 't' sound), and finish with an /r/ or a rhotic vowel color depending on the accent. In non-rhotic UK speech, the final /r/ may be subtle or non-existent; the vowel remains long. Practice with the phrase ‘do the chore’ to feel the single-syllable rhythm.
Two frequent errors: (1) crowding the vowel into a short /ɔ/ as in 'cot', making it sound like ‘chot’; ensure a longer /ɔː/ lip rounding and jaw openness. (2) Mispronouncing the initial cluster by adding an extra /k/ or a /tʃ/ blend shift; keep /tʃ/ as a single, light onset. Practice with minimal pair contrasts like ‘chore’ vs ‘core’ to feel the difference in vowel length and articulation.
In US English, /tʃɔːr/ with a pronounced rhotic /r/. In UK English, /tʃɔː/ with a non-rhotic R (often silent), so the vowel remains long and the final /r/ is reduced. In Australian English, /tʃɔːr/ with a variable rhoticity; some speakers produce a light /ɹ/ or a vowel that carries slight coating. The key is vowel quality and whether the /r/ is voiced in coda position. Listen for rhythm and the length of the vowel.
The challenge lies in producing the long /ɔː/ vowel while avoiding a reduced vowel, and in controlling the /tʃ/ onset smoothly. In some accents, linking to following words can alter perceived length (as in ‘the chore is…’). Additionally, the final /r/ in rhotic varieties or its absence in non-rhotic dialects can confuse learners accustomed to strong post-vocalic /r/. Mastering the balance between onset, vowel length, and coda sound is essential.
The word features a long front-back vowel with a mid-back color and a post-vocalic hint of R distress in rhotic accents. The initial /tʃ/ is a voiced alveolo-palatal affricate, and the vowel /ɔː/ requires open jaw and rounded lips. The word’s one-syllable structure makes stress simple and ripe for smoothing in connected speech, but small differences in rhoticity and vowel quality across dialects can noticeably change its sound.
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- US: emphasize rhotic /r/ with a clear tongue tip curling slightly; keep /ɔː/ open and long; lips rounded. - UK: non-rhotic: final /r/ is silent; maintain a long /ɔː/ and a light, subtle coda; begin with a crisp /tʃ/ and let the vowel glide. - AU: variable rhoticity; many speakers have a closer to /ɔː/ without heavy rhotic coloring; aim for a steady, smooth one-syllable sound. IPA references: US /tʃɔːɹ/, UK /tʃɔː/, AU /tʃɔː(ɹ)/. - Practice with lip rounding and jaw drop: start with your lips rounded, then relax as you reach the end of the vowel. - Use minimal pairs to tune differences: chore – core; chore – shore; chore – chorea (careful).
Chore comes from the French word chore, which meant a dinner or meal, and later shifted in English to mean a task or duty, especially one considered tiresome. Its modern sense as a routine household task emerged in 18th-19th century English as households standardized domestic labor. The root of the term ties to the notion of chores as daily chores—ritual, repeated duties rather than singular, extraordinary actions. The evolution shows a semantic narrowing to routine maintenance tasks, often necessary and unglamorous, contrasting with leisure activities. First known use in its current sense appears in 18th-century English literature and correspondence, reflecting the growth of domestic staff duties and the everyday labor expected in homes. Over time, “chore” has become common in both British and American English, maintaining its connotation of regular, unglamorous tasks that must be completed. Across dialects, the term preserves its practical, utilitarian nuance and is widely used in discussions of domestic life, chores, and time management. The word’s persistence underscores the cultural emphasis on responsibility and routine within everyday life.”,
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Chore" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Chore" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Chore"
-ore sounds
-oor sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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