2 syllables: Di, vorce. Stress on vorce.
div-AWRS
/dɪˈvɔɹs/
Divorce is pronounced div-AWRS (/dɪˈvɔɹs/). It has two syllables (Di-vorce), with the stress on "vorce". Divorce is the legal dissolution of a marriage, ending marital status between spouses. It can also refer to the process or action of separating and terminating a relationship. In everyday use, it denotes a formal end to a domestic partnership, involving proceedings, agreements, and potential adjustments to finances and living arrangements.
nounDivorce is the legal dissolution of a marriage, ending marital status between spouses. It can also refer to the process or action of separating and terminating a relationship. In everyday use, it denotes a formal end to a domestic partnership, involving proceedings, agreements, and potential adjustments to finances and living arrangements.
"She filed for divorce after years of unresolved conflicts."
"The couple attended mediation before the divorce settlement was finalized."
"Divorce rates have shifted with social and economic changes."
Pronounced di-ˈvȯrs in US and di-ˈvɔːs in UK/AU. Stress falls on the second syllable. Start with a quick, light initial /d/ followed by a short /ɪ/ vowel, then the stressed /vɔː/ or /vɔː/ depending on accent, and end with /rs/ in US or /s/ in UK/AU. Think of /ˈvɔːr/ with an r-controlled vowel and a final sibilant. For audio reference, compare to standard pronunciation in reputable dictionaries or pronunciation videos, and practice repeating slowly before increasing speed.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (saying di-VORCE with weak second syllable) or slurring the final /r/ in non-rhotic accents. Some learners mispronounce the vowel as /ɪ/ or /ə/ and say di-vor-се instead of di-ˈvɔːrs. Correct by ensuring the second syllable carries clear, long vowel quality /ɔː/ and a crisp /r/ (US) or a silenced /r/ (UK/AU compliant). Practice with focused minimal pairs and listening exercises to internalize the stress and vowel length.
US English uses rhotic /r/ after the vowel, giving /dɪˈvɔːr s/. UK and AU often exhibit non-rhotic tendencies; /r/ in spelling is not pronounced, yielding /dɪˈvɔːs/. The vowel quality is similar in length, but US may sustain /ɔː/ slightly longer and with a clearer /r/. In rapid speech, US speakers may fuse the /r/ leading into the final /s/. Pay attention to the presence or absence of rhoticity and to the final /s/ or /ˈs/ realization in each variant.
Two key challenges: a tense, back-vowel sound in the second syllable /ɔː/ which may differ across dialects, and the linking/unstressed consonant cluster around the /v/ and final /rs/ in US pronunciation. For non-native speakers, the sequence /vɔːr/ (US) vs /vɔːs/ (UK/AU) is tricky due to r-coloring and the alveolar sibilant finale. Mastery requires controlling lip rounding for /ɔː/ and accurate articulation of /r/ or its absence, plus clean separation between syllables in careful enunciation.
The base noun /dɪˈvɔːrs/ in US, /dɪˈvɔːs/ in UK/AU contrasts with the past participle /dɪˈvɔːrtɪd/ in some dialects, where the final /t/ is introduced in rapid speech as /dɪˈvɔːrt/ or /dɪˈvɔːst/? In practice, many native speakers assimilate the ending to /-ɪzd/ in informal contexts when saying the verb form or the past tense ((they divorced). However, the noun retains the final /r/ or /s/ depending on rhoticity. Focus on the noun form here: /dɪˈvɔːrs/ (US) vs /dɪˈvɔːs/ (UK/AU).
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Divorce comes from the Latin divortium, formed from dis- ‘apart’ and -vor, from vorare ‘to devour’ in early law Latin, indicating a breaking away or separation. In medieval Latin, divortium referred to a formal legal separation. The term entered Old French as divort, later evolving into divorce in English by the 14th–15th centuries, with early senses tied to separation rather than the dissolution of a marriage. Over time, divorce grew to signify the legal act of ending a marriage, with attention to mutual consent or court decrees, property division, and child arrangements. The modern sense emphasizes the formal, legal termination of a marriage contract, distinct from broader notions of separation or estrangement. The word’s semantic evolution mirrors social shifts toward individual autonomy and civil regulation of family life. First known use in English is documented in the 15th century, with broader legal usage developing in the 16th–18th centuries. Today, divorce is a common legal concept worldwide, though formal procedures and terminology vary by jurisdiction.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Divorce" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Divorce"
-rse sounds
-rce sounds
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