One syllable: cord.
/ˈkɔɹd/
Say it backCord (noun or verb) refers to a long, flexible thread-like strand made of twisted fibers or wire, used to tie, connect, or fasten objects. It can denote a string or rope of material, a length of electrical wiring, or the act of forming a cord or cordage. In specialized contexts, it also appears in phrases like “nerve cord” or “vocal cord.”
"She tightened the cord around the package to secure it."
"The electrician ran a thick cord from the outlet to the lamp."
"Her vocal cords produced a clear, resonant note during the recital."
Cord is pronounced with a single syllable as /kɔrd/ in US and many other dialects. Start with a back, rounded vowel as in ‘caught’ without the off-glide, then finish with the dark, postalveolar /ɹ/ sound. The mouth starts open, with the tongue low-mid and back, and closes into a light /ɹ/ at the end. IPA: US /kɔrd/, UK /kɔːd/, AU /kɔːd/. Listen for a short, clipped final /d/ after the vowel. Audio resources like Pronounce or Forvo can help you feel the same vowel before the r-colored ending.
Common errors include pronouncing it as /kɜrd/ (like ‘curd’) or with a longer, emphasized vowel /koːrd/ in non-rhotic contexts. Another frequent slip is misarticulating the final /d/, making it sound incomplete or as a /t/ in quick speech. Correction tips: keep the vowel height mid-back and rounded for /ɔ/ before the /ɹ/; produce a crisp /d/ by tapping the tongue behind the upper teeth, ensuring the air stops briefly before release, and avoid adding an extra vowel after the /d/.
In US rhotic speech, /kɔrd/ ends with a clearly pronounced /ɹ/ and /d/, with the vowel slightly rounded and backed. UK non-rhotic speakers may shorten or blur the /ɹ/, yielding /kɔːd/ with a longer vowel and a weaker or silent r; however, most modern UK speakers still pronounce a linking rhotic-like quality in careful speech. Australian varies but generally resembles US rhotic pronunciation with a relaxed, mid-back vowel /ɔː/ or /ɔ/ and an audible final /d/. Across accents, vowel quality before r and the presence or absence of rhoticity are the main differences.
The difficulty lies in the short, back vowel followed by a post-alveolar /ɹ/ that blends quickly with a final voiced /d/. In rapid speech, the /ɔ/ can shift toward /ɒ/ or be slightly lax, and the /ɹ/ can become a vowel-like color cue, especially for non-native speakers. Tension-free tongue position and a clean, brief /d/ release are essential. Practice with minimal pairs focusing on vowel height and rhotic timing to maintain a crisp, accurate /kɔrd/.
A cord contains a single, tense syllable from start to end, with a steady onset /k/ and a quick, precise release into /ɔɹ/ before the /d/. The unique feature is the /ɹ/ linking immediately before the final /d/ in rhotic varieties, which creates a subtle diphthong-like cue if spoken too slowly. Keeping the tongue relaxed yet precise at the root of /ɔ/ and ensuring the /d/ is a distinct stop will help maintain the correct, natural sound.
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Cord traces its roots to the Latin word chord(a) meaning “cord, string, gut, or rope.” The Latin term chords, cordis, signified a cord or wire and gave rise to the Middle English cord, used to mean a string, rope, or band. Over time, the sense broadened to include anatomical usage (as in cord for a tendon or sinew) and metaphorical uses (cord of friendship, cord of evidence). The word also migrated into legal and nautical vocabularies, sustaining a core sense of a narrow, flexible interconnected strand. The modern pronunciation aligns with a single-syllable, with a long o vowel in many dialects, though some varieties condense vowels before the r in rhotic accents. First known uses appear in Middle English texts from the 13th century, with evolving senses across crafts, medicine, and daily life, ultimately crystallizing into the common cord for string, rope, and wiring in contemporary English.
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Help others use "cord" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "cord" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "cord" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "cord"
-ord sounds
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