2 syllables: Dol, lar. Stress on Dol.
DAH-lur
/ˈdɑlɚ/
Dollar is pronounced DAH-lur (/ˈdɑlɚ/). It has two syllables (Dol-lar), with the stress on "Dol". Dollar is a common noun referring to a unit of currency used in the United States and several other countries, or to money in general. It is spoken with a short, unstressed initial syllable and a pronounced final syllable, typically sounding like /ˈdaʊlər/ in American English. The word often appears in contexts related to price, cost, and financial discussion.
nounDollar is a common noun referring to a unit of currency used in the United States and several other countries, or to money in general. It is spoken with a short, unstressed initial syllable and a pronounced final syllable, typically sounding like /ˈdaʊlər/ in American English. The word often appears in contexts related to price, cost, and financial discussion.
"The price of the sweater is forty dollars."
"She earned three dollars an hour at the part-time job."
"Are you carrying enough dollars for the concert tickets?"
Pronounce it as /ˈdaʊlər/ in US English, with primary stress on the first syllable. The first syllable sounds like “dau” (rhymes with “now”) and the second is a weak, schwa-like “-ler.” The final /r/ is pronounced in rhotic accents. Mouth position: start with a rounded /d/ tongue tip behind the upper teeth, glide into /aʊ/ with an open jaw, then a light /l/ and the rhotic /ɹ/ or a vocalic /ɚ/ in non-rhotic variants. Audio reference can be found on major dictionary sites or Pronounce resources for slow, clear articulation.
Common errors: 1) Pronouncing it as /ˈdɒlər/ with UK-like /ɒ/ vowel in US contexts; correct is /ˈdaʊlər/. 2) Dropping the /l/ or turning it into a /w/ in rapid speech: maintain /l/ before the final /ɹ/. 3) Non-rhotic mispronunciation where the final /r/ is omitted in American speakers; for American speech, always pronounce the /ɹ/. Correction tips: practice with the minimal pair doer/door to feel the /d/ + /aʊ/ glide and keep the /l/ clear before /ɹ/. Use slow, exaggerated mouth movements then reduce to natural tempo.
In US English, /ˈdaʊlər/ with rhotic /ɹ/; the final /r/ is pronounced in most dialects. In UK English, speakers often yield a reduced or non-rhotic ending, sounding closer to /ˈdaʊlə/ with a lighter or nonpronounced /r/; the /ɹ/ is not strongly pronounced. Australian English typically features /ˈdaʊlə/ with a subtle or semi-rhotic /ɹ/ depending on speaker and region. Vowel quality remains the same in all, but rhoticity and vowel reduction influence the perceived ending.
The difficulty arises from the sequence /ˈdaʊl/ plus the /ɚ/ or /ɹ/ ending, which requires tight coordination of the tongue tip for /l/ and the post-alveolar timing for /ɹ/ or its vowel variant. The /aʊ/ diphthong demands a wide jaw opening. Additionally, in fast speech, the /l/ can blend into the following consonant or get vocalized, obscuring the final /ɹ/; the result is a slurred or reduced ending. Practicing the diphthong and the rhotic ending separately helps accuracy.
Unique consideration: the word’s single lexical stress on the first syllable requires maintaining loudness and duration on /ˈdaʊ/ while the second syllable acts as a quick, reduced unit. A frequent learner question is whether to fully articulate the final /l/ and /ɹ/ in rapid speech; aim for a clear but brisk /lər/ in American speech, and a lighter /lə/ in non-rhotic variants. This nuance affects intelligibility in fast financial discussions and presentations.
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The term dollar originates from the low German or Dutch “thaler” (also spelled “daler”), a short for “Joachimsthaler,” a silver coin minted in the Joachims- valley (German: Joachims- thal) in Bohemia during the 16th century. The thaler was widely imitated and circulated across Europe, becoming a de facto standard of coinage. In the American colonies, many early coins and paper currencies used the term dollar, influenced by Spanish “dólar” and the Dutch “leeuwendaalder.” By the 18th and 19th centuries, the term became entrenched in the United States as the unit of account for the US dollar and in other countries, with some adapting the spelling (e.g., “dollar”) to suit local usage. The modern symbol $ emerged in the late 18th century and was popularized in the United States through colonial and early governmental use. Over time, “dollar” retained its status as a standard monetary unit, with various countries adopting a dollar-based currency system distinct from the US dollar but sharing the same name. The word thus reflects a journey from a widely circulated European coin to a global monetary unit with diverse national implementations.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Dollar" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Dollar" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Dollar"
-lar sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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