2 syllables: din, ner. Stress on din.
DIN-ur
/ˈdɪnɚ/
dinner is pronounced DIN-ur (/ˈdɪnɚ/). It has two syllables (din-ner), with the stress on "din". Dinner refers to the main evening meal in many Western countries, typically the largest daily meal and often eaten with family or guests. It can also denote the time of day when this meal is consumed. The word carries social and cultural associations related to routines, hospitality, and everyday life.
Dinner refers to the main evening meal in many Western countries, typically the largest daily meal and often eaten with family or guests. It can also denote the time of day when this meal is consumed. The word carries social and cultural associations related to routines, hospitality, and everyday life.
- You may be tempted to lengthen the vowel in the first syllable, turning /ˈdɪnər/ into /ˈdiːnər/. Keep it short: /ˈdɪn/. - The second syllable often becomes a heavy /ər/; in many dialects it reduces to a schwa-like /ə/ or /ər/; don’t force a full /ər/ after /n/. - Some learners insert an extra syllable or mispronounce as /ˈdɪn.nər/; ensure a clean, single /n/ linking to the reduced vowel. - Link to phrases without fully enunciating the final vowel in fluent speech; use a quick, relaxed /ər/ or /ə/ depending on your accent. - Practice with connected speech to avoid isolating sounds; you’ll hear natural transitions in phrases like “dinner is ready”.
"We’ll have dinner at 7 o’clock and then watch a movie."
"They served a light dinner after the conference dinner."
"What did you have for dinner last night?"
Pronounce as /ˈdɪn.ər/ in US English and /ˈdɪn.ə/ in many UK/AU varieties. The first syllable carries primary stress: /ˈdɪn/. The final syllable reduces to a schwa-like /ər/ or /ə/. Tip: keep your mouth relaxed for the final syllable; it's a quick, light schwa or syllabic nasal blend. See audio references.
Common errors include using a long, tense vowel in the first syllable (saying /ˈdiːnər/ like ‘deer’), or pronouncing the second syllable as a full /ər/ with strong rhoticity in non-rhotic accents. Another mistake is inserting an extra syllable (di-nuh-wer) or pronouncing it as /ˈdɪnɜr/ with an American r-coloring. Correction: keep /ɪ/ in the first syllable, shorten the second to a light /ə/ or /ər/, and avoid over-articulating the final consonant.
In US English, /ˈdɪn.ɚ/ often reduces the second syllable to a schwa with a linking /r/ in rhotic accents. In non-rhotic British English, you may hear /ˈdɪnə/ with a weaker, unreleased final consonant. Australian English typically uses /ˈdɪn.ə/ with a short, centralized vowel and a soft, non-rhotic finale. Across all, the stress remains on the first syllable, but vowel quality and rhoticity vary.
The challenge lies in the quick reduction of the second syllable and the transition from /ɪ/ to a lax schwa-like /ə/ or /ɚ/. Learners often carry the /ɚ/ with full rhotic coloring or over-articulate the /n/ and /r/ cluster when the syllable is reduced. Focus on a clean, quick /n/ into a light, unstressed /ɚ/ or /ə/. Mastery requires practicing with connected speech.
No, all letters /d/ /ɪ/ /n/ /ər/ carry audible or implied pronunciation. The final /r/ may be less audible in non-rhotic dialects, appearing as a trailing vowel (ə) sound rather than a fully pronounced 'r'. Focus on a crisp /d/ and /n/ before a light, reduced final vowel.
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- US: final syllable often rhymes with “her” in pronunciation as /ɚ/, with a rhotic /r/ if the speaker’s accent is rhotic. Focus on reduced, floating /ɚ/; the /r/ may be silent or lightly touched depending on speaker. - UK: commonly /ˈdɪnə/ with a non-rhotic trailing syllable; the second syllable is a short, unstressed /ə/ or /ə/. - AU: similar to UK, with /ˈdɪnə/ and a soft, non-rhotic ending; the vowel can be slightly more central. IPA references: US /ˈdɪn.ɚ/, UK /ˈdɪ.nə/, AU /ˈdɪ.nə/. - Practice focusing on final syllable reduction and mouth posture: keep lips relaxed, tip of tongue behind upper teeth for /d/ and /n/, then a quick schwa.
Dinner comes from the Old French term diner or disner, meaning ‘the first meal of the day,’ which over time shifted to refer to the main meal of the day in medieval Europe and then to the evening meal in various English-speaking regions. The Latin root diem meaning ‘day’ influenced related terms through French and Latin channels. In medieval England, the first substantial meal of the day was often eaten around noon; as social customs shifted, the largest meal moved to evening in many households, and “dinner” retained that sense. The term’s first known uses in English date from the 13th century, initially denoting a substantial midday meal before later broadening to the evening meal in many dialects. Modern usage in the US and UK often differentiates “dinner” as the main meal (often in the evening), while “supper” can imply a lighter or earlier meal in some regions. The word’s pronunciation has remained relatively stable in English-speaking regions, with minor regional vowel shifts contributing to subtle rhotic and non-rhotic variations over time.
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Words that rhyme with "dinner"
-ner sounds
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