One syllable: Course.
kawrs
/kɔɹs/
Course is pronounced kawrs (/kɔɹs/). It has one syllable (Course), with the stress on "Course". Course (noun): a path or direction to be taken; a series of studies or a route through something. It can refer to a curriculum, a course of action, or a golf/discipline course. In context, it denotes a planned sequence or route, often with a definite goal or endpoint. 2-4 sentences summarizing its core sense in everyday usage.
nounCourse (noun): a path or direction to be taken; a series of studies or a route through something. It can refer to a curriculum, a course of action, or a golf/discipline course. In context, it denotes a planned sequence or route, often with a definite goal or endpoint. 2-4 sentences summarizing its core sense in everyday usage.
"- She enrolled in a computer science course to learn programming."
"- The ship set a course for the east coast."
"- He apologized and changed course after realizing the mistake."
Course is pronounced with one syllable: /kɔːrs/ in US and UK, with an r-colored vowel sound followed by an 's'. Start with a mid-back rounded vowel [ɔ], then a trailing [r] followed by the voiceless [s]. The mouth remains relatively closed with the tongue slightly retracted; avoid turning it into a long 'oo' or 'coarse' as in ‘coarse’ if contrasting with related words. Audio reference: listen for the single-syllable, steady vowel and final unvoiced sibilant. Practice by saying /kɔːs/ slowly, then blend into connected speech.
Common errors: (1) Turning it into /koʊr/ by adding a tense diphthong; (2) Overemphasizing the /r/ or pronouncing it as /kɔːr/? with a British non-rhotic feel; (3) Saying /kawrs/ with a rounded off vowel confusion. Correction: keep a crisp, single-syllable vowel /ɔ/ and a short, final sibilant /s/. Relax the jaw and avoid an extended vowel; keep the mouth slightly rounded for American and UK variants, but do not elongate into an /oʊ/ or /aʊ/ diphthong.
US: /kɔɹs/ with rhotic r; UK: /kɔːs/ with a longer monophthong and non-rhotic tendency; AU: /kɔːs/ similar to UK but often with slightly shorter vowel duration and broader vowels depending on region. In American speech, the /ɹ/ is pronounced; in many British varieties, the /r/ is silent unless followed by a vowel in some accents. The vowel quality in AU may be a rounded back vowel; overall, the main difference is vowel length and rhoticity, not the consonant cluster.” ,
The challenge lies in producing a concise, single-syllable vowel /ɔ/ that isn’t drawn out, and in controlling the final /s/ without a trailing hiss or extra consonant. Speakers often lengthen the vowel or insert a schwa before /s/, turning /kɔːs/ into /kɔːz/ or /kɔːsɪ/. Careful tongue positioning: middle-back tongue height, lips slightly rounded, and crisp release into /s/. Focus on maintaining a steady, short vowel before the voiceless /s/.
The critical nuance is balancing the close-mid back unrounded /ɔ/ with a crisp, voiceless /s/ that follows immediately. Unlike words with a trailing /z/ (like 'course' as in a course of action ambiguous), this noun uses a voiceless final /s/; the alveolar /s/ should be crisp and not hissy. Emphasize the one-syllable rhythm and ensure the mouth closes sufficiently before the /s/ release to avoid sounding like /kɔːz/.
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Course originates from the Old French word curs, meaning “a running, race, or course,” deriving from Latin currere, meaning “to run.” The word entered Middle English with senses related to a running or flowing direction, or a path. Over time, course broadened to include courses of study (a planned sequence of learning), courses of action (directions to be followed), and navigational routes (a path plotted for travel). The semantic evolution reflects a consistent core idea of movement along a designed route, whether physical, intellectual, or strategic. First known use as a navigational or linear path in medieval texts, later expanding into education and strategic planning in the early modern period, paralleling the growth of organized curricula and structured plans in society.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Course" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Course" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Course"
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