2 syllables: de, part. Stress on part.
dip-AHRT
/dɪˈpɑɹt/
depart is pronounced dip-AHRT (/dɪˈpɑɹt/). It has two syllables (de-part), with the stress on "part". Depart means to leave, go away, or begin a journey from a place. It can describe physical movement, or figuratively, as in departing from a plan or norm. The term carries neutral to formal connotations and is commonly used in travel, scheduling, and formal writing. In noun form, it appears as departure, but the verb form is its standard usage in sentences.
Depart means to leave, go away, or begin a journey from a place. It can describe physical movement, or figuratively, as in departing from a plan or norm. The term carries neutral to formal connotations and is commonly used in travel, scheduling, and formal writing. In noun form, it appears as departure, but the verb form is its standard usage in sentences.
"The train will depart from platform 3 at 09:15."
"She decided to depart from the usual routine and try something new."
"The philosophy department will depart from traditional methods to embrace data-driven research."
Pronounce as /dɪˈpɑrt/ in US English, with a clear, stressed second syllable: de-PART. In UK and AU, it’s /dɪˈpɑːt/, with a longer vowel in the second syllable and a non-rhotic ending in most contexts. Mouth position: start with a short /d/ with the tongue touching the alveolar ridge, then a short /ɪ/, open jaw for the stressed /ɑː/ or /ɑ/, and finish with a crisp /t/. IPA guidance: US /dɪˈpɑrt/, UK /dɪˈpɑːt/, AU /dɪˈpɑːt/. You’ll notice the difference mainly in vowel length and rhoticity (US has a shorter /ɑ/, UK/AU have a longer /ɑː/). Pronunciation tip: keep the /p/ release tight and avoid a heavy vowel before the /t/.
Two common errors: (1) Misplacing stress, saying de-PART with weak final consonant; (2) Using a schwa instead of the /ɪ/ in the first syllable or shortening the /ɑː/ in UK/AU variants. Correction: practice the syllable boundary clearly as /dɪ-/ + /ˈpɑːt/ (UK/AU) or /dɪˈpɑrt/ (US), ensuring the second syllable carries strong stress and ends with a crisp /t/. Focus on starting with a light /d/, a short /ɪ/ or reduced vowel before the heavy /ɑː/ or /ɑ/ vowel, then a clean alveolar plosive.
US English typically uses /dɪˈpɑrt/ with rhotic /r/ in influence of American rhoticity, though final /t/ is released. UK/AU usually are /dɪˈpɑːt/ with non-rhotic behavior in many contexts and a longer /ɑː/ vowel. The main differences are vowel length and rhoticity; US has a slightly shorter vowel before /t/ and the /r/ can be more prominent depending on surrounding sounds, while UK/AU vowels are longer and the /r/ is often not pronounced in coda position. In connected speech, Americans may say “de-PART” with a slightly stronger /r/ coloration near the nucleus, whereas British/Australian speakers may be flatter in the coda and avoid rhotacization.
The difficulty comes from the tense, stressed second syllable and the fast, crisp ending /t/. The alveolar stop /t/ is a precise articulatory moment; if you release too soon or too late, you’ll sound off. Additionally, the vowel quality in the stressed syllable—/ɑː/ vs /ɑ/—needs careful mouth positioning: open jaw, low tongue, and a tense, prolonged vowel in UK/AU variants. The blend of a short /ɪ/ before a long /ɑː/ can mislead learners into misplacing the syllable boundary.
A word with a two-syllable structure that emphasizes the second syllable, end with a crisp /t/. Unique considerations include ensuring the /d/ is light but audible at onset, avoiding a mid-centralized vowel in the first syllable (which can happen if you over-reduce), and maintaining the vowel length distinction between US and UK/AU. Also, tracking the glide between /dɪ/ and /ˈpɑːt/ can help avoid an unintended softening of the first syllable.
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Depart originates from the Old French partir, from partir meaning to divide, set out, or depart, ultimately derived from Latin partire meaning to divide, share, or part. The sense evolution traces from the idea of dividing a route or course as one leaves a place, then extending to the act of setting out on a journey or moving away. In Middle English, departure-like forms appeared as departen, influenced by Old French; by the 14th century, depart had solidified as a verb meaning to go away from a location. The noun departure emerged in the same era, signaling the act or instance of leaving, and expanded into contexts like travel schedules and formal statements of leaving a position. The word has maintained its core semantic core of movement away from a place, with modern usage embracing both literal travel and figurative turning away from a plan or habit. The pronunciation has remained stable across English varieties, with a stress pattern on the second syllable in many contexts (de-PART). First known use in English literature appears in the 14th century, aligning with its Old French roots and Latinate precursors that informed its sense of division and movement.
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Words that rhyme with "depart"
-art sounds
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