Cometh is an archaic third-person singular present-tense verb meaning 'comes,' used primarily in biblical, liturgical, or stylized writing. It signaling action toward the speaker or a quoted subject, often in fixed phrases. In modern usage it marks formality and is rarely spoken aloud outside of quotations or fictional dialogue.
"The dawn cometh with a pale light, and the town awaits its verdict."
"When the tide cometh in, we must secure the boats."
"He cometh not to weigh words, but to deliver decisive counsel."
"In Shakespearean theater, quick decisions cometh from bold resolve."
Cometh originates from the Old English verb cuman, meaning 'to come.' It belongs to a class of present-tense forms that add -eth as the third-person singular habitual suffix in Early Modern English; the -th ending itself derives from the Proto-Germanic -izdō, a copula-like suffix for third-person singular in the observed historic period. The root word cuman is tied to the Proto-Germanic *kumaną and the Proto-Indo-European root *ḱeú- 'to incline toward, approach.' In Middle English, spellings varied (comethe, comethen) before standardizing to cometh by Early Modern English, with Shakespeare and the King James Bible cementing its archaic status. First known uses appear in religious texts and legal chronicles of the 14th–17th centuries, after which it gradually fell out of ordinary use, surviving mainly in literature and liturgy. Today, it is primarily encountered in poetic, biblical, or stylistic contexts where an antique or formal tone is desired. Its meaning remains fixed: the third-person singular of 'come.'
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Words that rhyme with "Cometh"
-ath sounds
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Cometh is pronounced /ˈkʌ.mɪθ/ in US, UK, and AU varieties. The first syllable carries primary stress. Start with a short 'uh' vowel /ʌ/ as in 'cup,' then a lax, unstressed second syllable /mɪθ/ where the 'th' is the voiced dental fricative /θ/ as in 'think' but often crisper. Tongue teeth contact: tip of the tongue to the upper teeth for /θ/. The mouth closes slightly to produce the alveolar /m/ initial, and a light release into /ɪ/ before /θ/. For emphasis in verse, you can slightly lengthen the vowel without altering the consonant. Audio references: consult reputable dictionaries and pronunciation platforms for the exact cadence.
Common mistakes include replacing the final /θ/ with /f/ or /s/, producing /ˈkʌmɪf/ or /ˈkʌmɪs/, and mistakenly turning the second syllable into /ɛ/ as in ‘comheh.’ Another error is stressing the second syllable (com-ETH) instead of the first (COM-eth). Correct by practicing the clean dental fricative /θ/ with the tongue tip at the upper teeth, keeping the /m/ closed-lip nasal, and maintaining primary stress on the first syllable. Practice saying COM-mith slowly, then add a natural breath into the /mɪθ/ segment.
Across US/UK/AU, the vowel in the first syllable is /ʌ/ (as in 'cut'), with minimal variation. The final /θ/ remains a dental fricative in all three, but Australian speakers may produce a slightly more dentalized or aspirated /θ/ due to broader tongue placement. UK and US share rhotic decision influences are minor here since /θ/ is non-rhotic. The main variation is vowel quality before /m/—some US speakers reduce the vowel slightly more than UK/AU. Overall: /ˈkʌmɪθ/ in all three; accent differences are subtle and mostly in vowel coloring and fluency.
The difficulty lies in the final /θ/ consonant, a sound that often confuses learners who are not native to English. Getting tongue-tip contact with the upper teeth and keeping airosthe precise flow is challenging, especially in rapid speech. Additionally, the unstressed second syllable /mɪ/ should be quick and light to avoid a heavy cadence that disrupts the old-fashioned rhythm. Focused practice on the dental fricative and maintaining primary stress on the first syllable will help you master it.
Is the /m/ in 'cometh' released as a separate syllable, or does it blend into /mɪ/? In careful speech, you start with /k/ + /ʌ/ + /m/ with a quick, almost syllabic /m/ transition into /ɪ/ before the /θ/. The /m/ is fully voiced and should be held just long enough to pass the nasal into the schwa-like /ɪ/ before the friction of /θ/. The key is a clean, brief transition: COM-mith.
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