2 syllables: Cots, wolds. Stress on Cots.
KAHTS-wohldz
/ˈkɑtswoʊldz/
Cotswolds is pronounced KAHTS-wohldz (/ˈkɑtswoʊldz/). It has two syllables (Cots-wolds), with the stress on "Cots". Cotswolds (noun) refers to a historically affluent and rural area in south-central England, spanning parts of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, and Wiltshire. It is famous for picturesque limestone villages and rolling countryside. The term also denotes the scenic region itself, not a single town or village.
nounCotswolds (noun) refers to a historically affluent and rural area in south-central England, spanning parts of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, and Wiltshire. It is famous for picturesque limestone villages and rolling countryside. The term also denotes the scenic region itself, not a single town or village.
- Overemphasizing the second syllable: You might say COTS-WOLDS with an exaggerated lull; instead keep two even syllables: /ˈkɒts/ /ˈwɒldz/ with a smooth glide into the final /dz/. - Dropping the /d/ in /ldz/: Some speakers vocalize the ending as /ld/ or /z/; fix by sustaining voicing for the /dz/ cluster so you hear the final “dz” sound. - Mispronouncing /ɒ/ as /ɔː/: Practice with a short rounded /ɒ/ like in cot to avoid a longer, more open vowel. - Speed traps: In fast speech, the consonant cluster can blur; slow down between /t/ and /s/ to keep the /t/ crisp and the /s/ aspirated, then land the /dz/ cleanly.
How to Pronounce Cotswolds
"The Cotswolds attract walkers and cyclists thanks to its charming hedgerows and stone cottages."
"During our trip, we stayed in a Cotswolds village that felt like stepping back in time."
"They filmed the scene in the Cotswolds, where the stonework and honey-coloured walls gleamed."
Pronounce as /ˈkɒtsˌwɒldz/ in UK and US accents. Start with COTS as /kɒts/ with a short, rounded /ɒ/ like ‘cot’, then a light wold portion /wɒldz/ where /w/ glides into /ɒ/, finishing with the final /ldz/ cluster. Primary stress on COTS. IPA reference helps ensure the proper rounded back vowel and the /dz/ ending. Audio examples: listen to regional readings of “Cotswolds” and mimic the steady, two-syllable rhythm.
Common errors include treating it as two hard, disjoint syllables like ‘Cot-swolds’ with a weak second syllable, or assuming the second vowel is a long /oʊ/ rather than the short /ɒ/. Another mistake is mispronouncing the final /dz/ as /d/ or /z/ alone, rather than the affricate /dz/. Correct by hitting the two clear syllables with the second syllable’s /wɒldz/ glide and ensuring the /dz/ is audible while the /d/ is not dropped.
US speakers tend to maintain /ˈkɒtsˌwɒldz/ with a rhotic /ɹ/ absent, while UK pronunciation retains the same pattern but with subtle vowel qualities: /ɒ/ in both syllables and a more pronounced /dw/ onset in the second syllable for some. Australian speakers share the non-rhotic nature but may exhibit a slightly broader /ɒ/ or a lighter /dz/ ending, influenced by Australian vowel shifts. Overall, stress remains on the first syllable, but cymbal-like rhythm can vary by tempo across regions.
Two main challenges: the short, rounded /ɒ/ vowels in both syllables can be unfamiliar for speakers who expect longer /ɔː/ or /ɒː/ variants; and the final /dz/ cluster requires crisp voicing that many non-native speakers omit or merge with /d/ or /z/. Practice focusing on the exact mouth positions for /k/ + /ɒ/ + /t/ + /s/ followed by /wɒ/ + /ldz/ to achieve the correct, denser ending.
The ‘-wolds’ portion features a bilabial /w/ glide followed by a dark /ɒ/ and a slender /ldz/ ending. The combination of /t/ and /s/ before the /w/ can cause a subtle assimilation if spoken quickly, so maintain a crisp /t/ before the /s/ plus a distinct /w/ onset for the second syllable to preserve the word’s characteristic rhythm.
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- US: Slightly flatter vowel on /ɒ/ but maintain non-rhoticity; keep /dz/ audible at the end. - UK: Realize /ɒ/ with a more rounded mouth and a tiny vowel lengthened before the /w/ glide; the /dz/ ending should be crisp but not forced. - AU: Similar to UK with slight shortening of the first vowel; ensure the final /dz/ is perceptible but not overly forceful. IPA cues help you align vowel qualities and consonant voicing.
Cotswolds derives from Old English elements: cot meaning a shelter or cottage, and wald (later wold) meaning forest, wood, or upland. The name historically describes a region where cottages (cots) sit among wooded uplands. Its earliest reference appears in the Domesday Book (11th century) with spellings such as Cottelewold or Cot(u)lswold, reflecting evolving orthography and pronunciation. By the Middle English period, the designation settled as Cotswold(s), referring to a broad geographic belt characterized by soft, yellow limestone that defines the local architecture and landscape. The modern geographic unit, the Cotswolds, was popularized in tourism and geographic discourse during the 19th and 20th centuries, consolidating the sense of a unified rural zone rather than a collection of separate parishes. The pronunciation historically shifted toward a two-syllable pattern with the primary stress on the first syllable, a trend reinforced by regional speech and travel literature. In today’s usage, the term is commonly used with a clear sibilant plural ending, reflecting its status as a proper noun representing a well-defined region rather than a generic geographical feature.
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Words that rhyme with "Cotswolds"
-lds sounds
-old sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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