3 syllables: Cor, du, roy. Stress on Cor.
KAWR-dur-oy
/ˈkɔɹdɚˌɔɪ/
Corduroy is pronounced KAWR-dur-oy (/ˈkɔɹdɚˌɔɪ/). It has three syllables (Cor-du-roy), with the stress on "Cor". Corduroy is a fabric with raised parallel ribs, typically used for jackets and trousers. It’s a noun that denotes the material itself and, less commonly, garments made from it. The term implies a soft, durable cloth with a distinctive nap and ridged texture, often associated with casual or workwear styles.
nounCorduroy is a fabric with raised parallel ribs, typically used for jackets and trousers. It’s a noun that denotes the material itself and, less commonly, garments made from it. The term implies a soft, durable cloth with a distinctive nap and ridged texture, often associated with casual or workwear styles.
- Common misstep: over-pronouncing the middle syllable; fix by reducing to a soft /ə/ and letting the final /ɔɪ/ carry more weight. - Another error: mis-splitting the two vowels into three distinct sounds; practice as a smooth two-phoneme sequence: /kɔː.dɔɪ/ with a light bridge between /d/ and /ɔɪ/. - Final error: flattening /ɔɪ/ into /oʊ/ or /ɔː/; correct by rounding lips and staying on the diphthong until the end. - Practical tip: record, slow down, and emphasize the two primary vowels: /ɔː/ and /ɔɪ/.
"She wore a corduroy jacket to the autumn market."
"The corduroy trousers felt comfortable and warm during the chilly morning."
"During the thrift store hunt, he found a vintage corduroy blazer in excellent condition."
US/UK/AU IPA: COR-duh-roi varies by accent: US /ˈkɔːrdəˌɔɪ/ or /ˈkɔːrdəroɪ/; UK /ˈkɔːdəˌrɔɪ/; AU /ˈkɔːdəˌrɔɪ/. The first syllable has a low back vowel; second syllable is /də/ with a schwa-like reduction; final is /ɔɪ/ as in boy. Stress on the first syllable. Mouth: start with a rounded back vowel for the first, relax jaw for /də/, then lip-rounding for /ɔɪ/. Audio reference: you’ll hear a clear two-syllable beat with a rising diphthong at the end.
Two common errors: pronouncing the second syllable as /duː/ instead of a reduced /də/; and slurring the final /ɔɪ/ into /ɔː/ or /aɪ/. Correction: keep the second syllable light with schwa /ə/ and maintain a crisp /ɔɪ/ diphthong at the end. Ensure the first syllable uses /k/ with a rounded back vowel /ɔː/ rather than a fronted /ɒ/; avoid tense vowel before /r/.
US tends to strong first-syllable with /ɔːr/ and a clearly pronounced /ɔɪ/ at the end; UK may flatter the /ɔː/ and deliver a lighter /ə/ in the middle. AU mirrors US but with slightly flatter intonation and less rhoticity in some speakers. Across all, the final /r/ in non-rhotic dialects may be softer or non-pronounced before vowels, but American English often maintains r-coloring in the syllable. Emphasize the diphthong /ɔɪ/ in all regions.
The challenge lies in the two consecutive unstressed sounds and the final diphthong /ɔɪ/. The middle /də/ is a reduced syllable that can blur in rapid speech, while the final /ɔɪ/ requires precise lip rounding and tongue height. Beginners often overemphasize the middle vowel or mispronounce /ɔɪ/ as /oʊ/. Practice: exaggerate the first syllable, release the /ə/ cleanly, then glide into a tight /ɔɪ/.
A key distinguishing feature is the subtle, non-stressed middle /də/ that blends into the following /r/ in rhotic accents. The double-role of /r/ after /d/ creates a connected flow: /ˈkɔː.də.rɔɪ/. Some speakers may insert a faint /ɹ/ that links the syllables; in non-rhotic accents, the /r/ may be suppressed before vowels, affecting the glide into /ɔɪ/.
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US: rhotic /r/ kept; UK: non-rhotic, /r/ may vanish before vowels; AU: variable rhoticity. Vowel notes: /ɔː/ dense back vowel, lip rounding; /ə/ reduced mid; /ɔɪ/ final diphthong with rounded lips; stress on first syllable. - US: maintain clear /d/ before /ə/; - UK: quick /ə/ and a lighter /r/; - AU: similar to US but with flatter intonation. - IPA cues: use /ˈkɔː.də.rɔɪ/ (US/UK/AU variants) and ensure consistent final diphthong.
Corduroy traces its origin to the French phrase corde du roi meaning royal cloth, which in turn comes from corde (rope) and du roi (of the king). The term was adopted into English in the 18th century, likely describing the fabric’s ribbed, cord-like texture. Early uses referred to a sturdy, durable fabric used in workwear before evolving into the more refined and fashionable material we know today. The word’s spelling and emphasis have shifted over time, with “cord” alluding to the cords or ribs and “uroy/rooy” reflecting phonetic adaptation across languages. First known prints appear in 18th- or 19th-century textile catalogs, where corduroy fabrics were produced in a range of weights for jackets, trousers, and upholstery. Its popularity surged in the 20th century, particularly in casual and outdoor apparel, maintaining a robust identity as a practical, rugged textile with a distinctive tactile surface. The modern understanding of corduroy combines its historical roots with contemporary fashion usage, preserving its ribbed aesthetic in garments and home goods alike.
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Words that rhyme with "Corduroy"
-roy sounds
-ory sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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