Diaper is a noun referring to a absorbent garment worn by babies or young children to catch urine and feces. It can also denote a tissue-like material used for decorative or design purposes in textiles. In modern usage, the term commonly implies disposable or cloth products, and its meaning can vary by region in parenting contexts.
"She changed the diaper before we left the house."
"In some places, diaper and nappy are used interchangeably."
"The designer diaper pattern was printed on the fabric."
"We labeled the package with a diaper rash cream and a newborn diaper size."
The word diaper originates from the Middle English word dipeor, with roots tracing to the Old French diare. Its evolution is linked to the Latin diaper?derived from the Greek diaphragma? actually; careful: the common etymology connects to the term diaper referring to a dyed, patterned cloth, from the Old French diaper meaning a patterned cloth, possibly from the Latin textus pannus. By the 16th to 17th centuries, diaper described a piece of linen with a lattice-like pattern used for napkins and coverings, later narrowing to the absorbent garment worn by infants in the 19th and 20th centuries with the rise of modern baby products. The shift from fabric pattern to a garment is an example of metonymy and semantic narrowing under consumer culture. First known use in English recorded in the 16th century as a type of patterned fabric, with infant use documented by the 19th century, and by the mid-20th century the term diaper commonly referred to disposable baby products in American English while in many other regions “nappy” remained common.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Diaper" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Diaper" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Diaper"
-per sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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/ˈdaɪ.ə.pɚ/ in US, with primary stress on the first syllable. In UK/AU, it’s closer to /ˈdaɪ.ə.pə/. Open front vowel in the first syllable, a mid schwa in the second, and a rhotacized ending in US (/ɚ/), while UK/AU end with /ə/. Tip: emphasize the first syllable with a crisp /aɪ/ diphthong, then relax to /ə/ before the final /p/ and /ə/ (US) or /ə/ (UK/AU). Audio reference: YouGlish andPronounce can provide real-life examples.
Two frequent errors: 1) Slurring the /d/ into a quick /j/ or /dʒ/ sound—keep the /d/ clear before the /aɪ/. 2) Misplacing stress so it sounds like /daɪˈeɪ.pər/ or /ˈdaɪə.per/. Correction: hold the /aɪ/ in the first syllable, then quickly move to /ə/ and a crisp /p/ before the final schwa or /ɚ/ depending on accent. Practice with slow exaggeration: /ˈdaɪ.ə.pə/ (UK/AU) or /ˈdaɪ.ə.pɚ/ (US).
US: /ˈdaɪ.ə.pɚ/ with rhotic /ɚ/. UK/AU: /ˈdaɪ.ə.pə/ with non-rhotic /ə/ ending and weaker rhoticity. Vowel quality remains similar in the first two syllables, but the final vowel in US tends to be a rhotacized schwa. Stop consonants are similar, though Americans may have a more tense /ɚ/.
Because it combines a stressed diphthong /aɪ/ with a mid-central vowel /ə/ and a final /ɚ/ or /ə/ in many accents. The transition from the open /aɪ/ to the schwa can feel fast and unclear when speaking quickly, causing a weak or slurred final syllable. Also, rhoticity (US) versus non-rhotic (UK/AU) changes the audible ending, making it tricky for non-native speakers to settle on a single, natural ending.
Yes—stress placement on the first syllable and the need to articulate /d/ clearly before the /aɪ/ diphthong, followed by a fast /ə/ or /ə/ + /p/ + (r) depending on accent. In American English, the final /ɚ/ adds a rhotic flavor; in UK/AU, you’ll hear a trailing /ə/ without rhotacization. This combination is a common point of confusion for learners; practicing with minimal pairs helps solidify the pattern.
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