A dhole is a wild Asian canid, also called the Asiatic wild dog, notable for its pack hunting and vocalizations. The term refers to the species Cuon alpinus, native to South and Southeast Asia. In zoological contexts, 'dhole' designates this wolf-like, highly social carnivore rather than any domestic dog breed.
"The dhole uses a sophisticated pack strategy to corner prey."
"Researchers studied the dhole’s distinctive yip-howl calls."
"In the forest reserve, dhole sightings were recorded during the dry season."
"Conservationists are concerned about habitat loss affecting dhole populations."
The word 'dhole' entered English via South Asian languages and zoological discourse in the 19th century. Its exact origin is unclear, but it is often linked to Dravidian or Indo-Aryan roots referring to wild canids in local language vocabularies. Early British naturalists adopted 'dhole' to distinguish Cuon alpinus from domestic dogs and other wild canids, reflecting regional terms for pack-oriented, dog-like predators. The species name Cuon alpinus derives from Latinized taxonomy: 'Cuon' meaning dog or hound, and 'alpinus' indicating alpine or upland habitats, though dhole ranges extend well beyond alpine zones. Over time, the lexical usage broadened beyond science into conservation literature and common usage, preserving the unique spelling to differentiate it from generic 'dog' or 'wolf' in popular discourse. The word’s pronunciation likely aligned with local South Asian pronunciation patterns before being anglicized, which is reflected in its distinct initial consonant cluster and vowel qualities in modern English usage. First known printed usage appears in 19th-century zoological catalogs and expedition reports, with subsequent standardization in field guides and encyclopedias. The term today signals a specific species with unique social behavior, rather than a broad term for wild canids, helping scholars and audiences immediately recognize Cuon alpinus in scientific and public-facing texts.
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Words that rhyme with "Dhole"
-ole sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Dhole is pronounced with a single stressed syllable: US /ˈdoʊl/ or UK /ˈdəʊl/ and AU /ˈdoul/. Start with a clear 'd' followed by a long 'o' vowel and finish with an 'l'. The key is a tight, single syllable without extra vowel after the /l/. Visualize: say 'doh' quickly, then close with an 'l' without adding a vowel sound. Listen for the long, pure vowel and the crisp trailing /l/ in native sources or pronunciation videos for confirmation.
Common errors include turning the /oʊ/ into a shorter, clipped vowel like 'dol' or adding an extra schwa after the vowel (e.g., 'doh-ul'). Some speakers may insert a soft 'uh' before the l, producing /dəʊəl/ or /doʊəl/ with unnecessary syllables. To correct, practice a tight single-syllable /doʊl/ or /dəʊl/ by starting with a sharp /d/, maintaining a long, focused vowel, and finishing abruptly with a clean /l/—avoid trailing vowels or additional consonants.
US tends to a clear /ˈdoʊl/ with a pure long 'o' and strong /l/. UK often says /ˈdəʊl/, with a slightly more centralized initial vowel in some dialects, and a potentially more pronounced rhoticity difference (less rhotic influence). Australian pronunciation resembles UK, with a clear /əʊ/ glide in the diphthong and a crisp final /l/. The main contrast is the onset vowel quality: US tends toward /oʊ/ as a strong diphthong, while UK/AU lean toward /əʊ/ with a slightly more centralized starting vowel.
The challenge lies in producing a single-syllable word with a pure long vowel and a clean final /l/ without introducing extra vowels or syllable breaks. The diphthong must glide smoothly from /d/ to /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ without a hiatus, and the final /l/ requires precise tongue placement so the air releases cleanly without nasality. Additionally, some speakers might misperceive the initial consonant cluster as an approximant, leading to a softer onset. Controlled practice with minimal pairs helps fix this.
There are no silent letters in 'dhole'; the word is a single stressed syllable: /ˈdoʊl/ or /ˈdəʊl/. The 'h' in spelling is historical rather than phonemic in modern English—its presence signals the etymological origin rather than a separate sound. Focus on a clean onset /d/, a long, pure or slightly centering diphthong, and a crisp /l/. The stress remains on the only syllable, so avoid secondary stress on any part of the word.
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