2 syllables: Da, da. Stress on Da.
DAH-dah
/ˈdɑˌdɑ/
Dada is pronounced DAH-dah (/ˈdɑˌdɑ/). It has two syllables (Da-da), with the stress on "Da". Dada is a linguistic term used mainly in the arts to denote a movement characterized by deliberately nonsensical language and anti-art attitudes. In everyday usage, it can refer to a childish utterance or a nickname for a parent’s friend, but in scholarly contexts it designates a 20th‑century avant‑garde movement and its associated phenomena. The word is also used as a proper noun in some contexts (e.g., family names).
nounDada is a linguistic term used mainly in the arts to denote a movement characterized by deliberately nonsensical language and anti-art attitudes. In everyday usage, it can refer to a childish utterance or a nickname for a parent’s friend, but in scholarly contexts it designates a 20th‑century avant‑garde movement and its associated phenomena. The word is also used as a proper noun in some contexts (e.g., family names).
- You may mistakenly pronounce both syllables with equal prominence, resulting in a flat, wooden sound. Focus on the first syllable being longer and stronger than the second. - You might default to a short /æ/ or /ɑ/ in the first vowel; aim for a fuller, longer /ɑː/ or /ɒː/. - Final vowel may become an overt //ə// with extra consonant rounding; keep it relaxed and reduced to /ə/ or /ə/ to maintain natural cadence. To correct: slow down, articulate the first syllable with a strong, open back vowel, then gently release into the second syllable with a light /ə/; practice with mirrors and tongue placement cues to keep the tongue low and relaxed.
How to Pronounce Dada
"The Dada movement emerged in Zurich as a reaction to World War I."
"She playfully called her friend ‘Dada’ as a teasing nickname."
"In the video, the artist spoke in a Dada-inspired collage of phrases."
Pronounce it as DAH-dah, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK: /ˈdɑː.də/; Australian often mirrors /ˈdɒː.də/. Keep both vowels broad, avoid American flapping. The first sound is an open back low vowel followed by a voiced alveolar stop; the second syllable is a reduced, unstressed schwa-like or /ə/ in fluent speech. If you’re listening to recordings, you’ll hear a crisp, even syllables, not a heavy diphthong.
Common errors: (1) Reducing both syllables too quickly leading to DA-da without weight on the first; (2) Using American /æ/ or a short trap vowel instead of /ɑː/ or /ɒː/; (3) Slurring the second syllable into the first. Correction: hold the first vowel longer and fuller (like /ɑː/), then produce a neutral, relaxed /də/ or /də/ for the second syllable. Practice with minimal pairs and slow tempo to anchor the contrast.
US and UK both favor a broad /ɑː/ in the first syllable: /ˈdɑː.də/. Australian tends to approach /ˈdɒː.də/ with a rounded, shorter /ɒː/. The diphthong in final /ə/ is typically a schwa or light /ə/. In all, the strongest cues are the first syllable’s back open vowel and the crisp /d/ consonants; rhoticity doesn’t substantially affect the core. Listen for the length on the first syllable; accents push it differently but the rhythm remains trochaic.
It’s not so much the consonants as the vowel quantity and rhythm: you want a long, open first vowel without turning into a vowel shift or a short /æ/. The /d/ is straightforward, but keeping the final /ə/ light and unstressed is easy to drop if you hurry. The challenge is balancing the two syllables with even timing, avoiding a heavy second syllable or a trailing off into a run-on word.
The key USP for Dada is the strong, fully realized first vowel; you can imagine the word as a confident opening syllable that sustains the /ɑː/ long enough to set the mood, followed by a brief, relaxed second syllable. Ensure the /d/ is not alveolar flapped in rapid speech and that the final syllable uses a clear schwa or central /ə/ sound to avoid an overly clear second vowel. This precision helps listeners recognize the term in dense academic or arty contexts.
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- US: emphasize the /ɑː/ vowel and keep final /ə/ lax; keep the /d/ crisp. - UK: similar but may show slightly tighter mouth opening; allow a long /ɑː/ and a short /ə/. - AU: often a shorter /ɒː/ with a broad vowel; ensure you don’t tilt toward a nasal vowel. Across all, rhoticity isn’t crucial here, but the first vowel’s openness matters. Reference IPA and practice with minimal pairs comparing /ɑː/ vs /ɒː/ in your dialect.
Dada originated in Zurich in 1916 as a deliberately provocative label for a group of artists reacting against the horrors of World War I and mainstream culture. The term was chosen for its spontaneity and lack of a fixed meaning, with several origin stories including a child’s nearby acceptance of the word in a music box and the French phrase ‘dada’, meaning ‘hobbyhorse’ or ‘father’ in some dialects. The movement spread to Berlin, Paris, and New York, where it became a rallying cry for anti-art and experimental collages, performance, and readymades. Early manifestos emphasized negation of traditional aesthetics, the use of chance, and the embrace of irrationality. The term was quickly co-opted and reinterpreted within the broader avant‑garde, with the name enduring as a marker of anti‑institutional creativity more than a single style. First known written use is debated but dates to around 1916–1917, with references appearing in cabaret and print as artists sought to shock audiences and redefine art’s purpose.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Dada" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Dada" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Dada"
-eta sounds
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