2 syllables: col, der. Stress on col.
KOHL-dur
/ˈkoʊldɚ/
colder is pronounced KOHL-dur (/ˈkoʊldɚ/). It has two syllables (col-der), with the stress on "col". Colder is a comparative adjective describing a lower temperature or a greater degree of coldness, used to compare two or more things. It can also function in a figurative sense, implying greater emotional distance or severity. The word emphasizes a shift from a warmer condition to a cooler one, often in contrast to something warmer or milder.
Colder is a comparative adjective describing a lower temperature or a greater degree of coldness, used to compare two or more things. It can also function in a figurative sense, implying greater emotional distance or severity. The word emphasizes a shift from a warmer condition to a cooler one, often in contrast to something warmer or milder.
"The weather today is colder than yesterday."
"If you go outside in a winter coat, you’ll feel colder once you start moving slowly."
"This soup tastes colder now that it’s cooled to room temperature."
Pronounce as /ˈkoʊl dər/ in General American; the first syllable is stressed. The vowel in the first syllable is a long /oʊ/ (as in snow), the /l/ is light, and the second syllable contains a schwa before the final /r/ in rhotic accents. In non-rhotic UK English, it’s /ˈkəʊldə/ with a reduced second syllable and the final /r/ not pronounced. In Australian English, /ˈkəʊldə/ or /ˈkɔldə/ can occur with a schwa in the second syllable. Audio reference: imagine saying “co-ld” quickly, ending with a soft, almost unseen /r/ in non-rhotic varieties.
Common errors include pronouncing it as two equal syllables with a heavy /r/ in non-rhotic accents (e.g., /ˈkoʊldər/ with an American-style ending in UK). Another frequent mistake is misplacing stress, saying /ˈkoldər/ with reduced first vowel, or turning the /l/ into a vowel-like schwa. Correct by maintaining primary stress on the first syllable and ensuring a clear /oʊ/ in the first syllable and a light, unstressed second syllable: /ˈkoʊl.dər/ in rhotic accents and /ˈkəʊldə/ in non-rhotic accents.
In General American: /ˈkoʊldər/ with rhotic /r/. In UK non-rhotic: /ˈkəʊldə/ with a shortened, non-pronounced /r/ and a more centralized second syllable. In Australian English: /ˈkəʊldə/ or /ˈkoːldə/, often with a slightly less pronounced /r/ and a vowel that’s closer to /ə/ in the second syllable. The main differences are rhoticity and vowel quality in the first syllable: /oʊ/ vs /əʊ/.
The word hinges on precise vowel length and quality in the first syllable (the /oʊ/ diphthong) and a reduced, unstressed second syllable. Non-native speakers often lengthen or misplace the diphthong, or over-articulate the final /r/ in rhotic dialects. The challenge is blending the long /oʊ/ into a quick second syllable with a schwa, while maintaining a crisp /l/ before the consonant cluster and a natural transition to the /r/ sound.
A unique feature is the two-syllable rhythm with the first syllable vowel leading the diphthong, followed by a reduced second syllable. Learners should watch the transition from the /l/ into the /d/ and avoid turning the /l/ into a vowel. Pay attention to whether your accent maintains rhoticity; in non-rhotic varieties, ensure the second syllable ends with a softly reduced /ə/. Focus on keeping primary stress on the first syllable and a clean, light /ər/ or /ə/ depending on dialect.
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Colder derives from the comparative form of cold. The adjective cold originates from Old English cauld, which has Germanic roots in Proto-Germanic kalda- or kaldiz, signifying cold or cool. The comparative suffix -er emerged in Middle English as part of a broader pattern to form comparatives from adjectives (e.g., cold → colder). The sense of gradual decrease in temperature or intensity evolved as English speakers compared one state to a cooler alternative. By the 13th-14th centuries, colder was established as a standard comparative form used in prose and poetry, frequently in meteorological descriptions and figurative language. Over time, colder also absorbed idiomatic uses, such as colder climates or colder receptions, reinforcing its role as a marker of relative difference. In modern usage, colder functions both literally (temperature) and metaphorically (emotional or tactical tone), retaining its core sense of more cold or less warmth compared to another reference point.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "colder" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "colder" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "colder"
-der sounds
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