3 syllables: Co, lan, der. Stress on Co.
KAH-luhn-dur
/ˈkɑləndɚ/
Colander is pronounced KAH-luhn-dur (/ˈkɑləndɚ/). It has three syllables (Co-lan-der), with the stress on "Co". Colander is a perforated bowl used for draining liquids from foods such as pasta or washed vegetables. It is typically made of metal or plastic and features numerous holes to allow liquid to pass through while retaining solid food. The word emphasizes its function and shape, pairing a sturdy base with a wide, open top for convenient draining.
nounColander is a perforated bowl used for draining liquids from foods such as pasta or washed vegetables. It is typically made of metal or plastic and features numerous holes to allow liquid to pass through while retaining solid food. The word emphasizes its function and shape, pairing a sturdy base with a wide, open top for convenient draining.
How to Pronounce Colander
Have we pronounced this wrong? Teach everybody how you say it using the comments below!! Trying to study English? Claim top deals on English courses at https://pronounce.tv/deals Thanks for viewing our guide on how to correctly say "Colander". Phonetic spelling: ˈkələndər. 1. Colander is also used as a Noun. Definition: a perforated bowl used to strain off liquid from food, especially after cooking. Have a better definition for "Colander"? Drop a note about Colander in the video comments. You can also comment at our website at https://pronounce.tv/colander Do you fancy submitting a hard word? Post it to https://pronounce.tv/submit
"She rinsed the berries and let them drain in the colander."
"After boiling the pasta, transfer it to the colander to drain."
"The kitchen drawer held a dented metal colander from grandma."
/ˈkɒ.lən.dər/ in US and UK English, with the primary stress on the first syllable: COL-an-dər. In Australian English you’ll hear a similar pattern: /ˈkɒl.ən.də/. The middle syllable reduces to a schwa in many speakers: /ˈkɒ.lən.dər/ or /ˈkɒl.ən.də/. Try stressing the first syllable and keeping the fusing sound smooth between syllables. Audio reference: standard pronunciations in Cambridge/Oxford dictionaries or Forvo will match /ˈkɒ.lən.dər/.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (pronouncing as co-LAN-der), misplacing the schwa in the second syllable, and compressing the final dər into a dull ‘der’ without the soft schwa. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, use a clear /ə/ on the second syllable, and finish with a light /ər/ or /ə/ in non-rhotic varieties. Practice with: '/ˈkɒ.lən.dər/' (US/UK) and '/ˈkɒl.ən.də/' (AU). Use minimal pairs and slow repetition to lock the pattern.
In US English, the final syllable often features a rhotic /ər/ (colander). UK English tends to reduce the final to /ə/ or /ə/ with non-rhoticity, producing /ˈkɒl.ən.də/. Australian English is similar to UK but can exhibit broader vowel quality and slightly stronger final vowel, /ˈkɔl.ən.də/ or /ˈkɒl.ən.də/. The second syllable generally uses a schwa /ə/; the first syllable is stressed. IPA guides in dictionaries reflect these differences: US /ˈkɑl.ən.dɚ/ or /ˈkɒl.ən.də/ depending on transcription conventions.
Two main challenges: the sequence -lən- can blur into a light l+n blend, and the unstressed middle syllable reduces to a weak schwa which can be unclear if you emphasize the wrong vowel. Additionally, the final syllable /dər/ often sounds closer to /də/ in non-rhotic speech, or is pronounced with a more pronounced /ɚ/ in rhotic accents. Focus on keeping the first syllable strong, the middle as a clear /ən/ or /ə/, and the final as a light, almost whispered /ər/ or /ə/.
A unique feature is the cluster -lən- where the lateral /l/ links to a neutral schwa /ə/; maintaining the distinct /l/ quality while allowing the vowel to reduce is essential. The first syllable contains a pure stressed vowel /ɒ/ (or /ɑ/ in some accents), followed by a quick, soft /lən/ sequence leading into a non-stressed /dər/ or /də/. Mastery comes from keeping the /l/ crisp while the middle vowel reduces smoothly, avoiding an over-enunciated second syllable.
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Colander comes from the Latin colare meaning to strain or to filter, reflecting its purpose. The English form likely derives from the Late Latin colanderium, adopted into Old French as colandre, then into English as colander by the 14th–15th centuries. The root word colare shares ancestry with colatura and colando, reflecting the act of straining through perforations. The term evolved to designate a container specifically designed for draining, separating a liquid from solids. Early colanders were made of bronze or hammered metal in medieval and Renaissance kitchens, evolving through the 17th–19th centuries as manufacturing introduced tin, pewter, then sturdy zinc and later plastics. The concept of perforated bowls existed across many cultures, but the modern English term solidified with standardized kitchenware in the 18th and 19th centuries, paralleling the rise of domestic science and practical homemaking. Today, colanders are ubiquitous in metal or plastic, often with a handle or a collapsible design, preserving the core drainage function that gave rise to the name.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Colander" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Colander"
-der sounds
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