2 syllables: dol, phin. Stress on dol.
DAHL-fuhn
/ˈdɑlfən/
dolphin is pronounced DAHL-fuhn (/ˈdɑlfən/). It has two syllables (dol-phin), with the stress on "dol". Dolphin refers to a highly intelligent marine mammal known for its sociable behavior and streamlined body. In general usage, the term can describe this animal in scientific, educational, or documentary contexts, or be used metaphorically to suggest grace or agility. The word is pronounced with two syllables and ends with an /n/ sound, with emphasis on the first syllable.
Dolphin refers to a highly intelligent marine mammal known for its sociable behavior and streamlined body. In general usage, the term can describe this animal in scientific, educational, or documentary contexts, or be used metaphorically to suggest grace or agility. The word is pronounced with two syllables and ends with an /n/ sound, with emphasis on the first syllable.
- You may replace the /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ with /æ/ in the first syllable, making it sound like 'dalf-in.' Correction: keep the first vowel as a back open vowel with a rounded lip posture. - The /lf/ cluster is hard; many substitute /l/ with a light /ɫ/ or merge /l/ and /f/ into a fricative. Correction: practice /l/ and /f/ in sequence with a light touch, then release into /ɪ/ or /ɪn/. - Stress misplacement: stressing the second syllable yields DAL-fən. Correction: emphasize the first syllable DOL-, keep the second syllable unstressed and quick. - Final /n/ may become an /ŋ/ in some dialects; ensure the tip of the tongue contacts the alveolar ridge for /n/ rather than velar nasal /ŋ/.
"The dolphin leapt gracefully above the waves during the morning show."
"Researchers are studying dolphin communication patterns in the wild."
"A cinematic scene portrayed a dolphin guiding divers to safety."
Pronounce as DOL-fən with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈdɑl.fɪn/ or /ˈdɒl.fən/ depending on speaker; UK /ˈdɒl.fɪn/; AU typically /ˈdɒl.fɪn/. Note the middle syllable often reduces to a schwa in casual speech. Mouth: start with an open-mid back vowel, then a light /l/ and a short, lax /f/ followed by a quick schwa- or reduced /ən/.
Common errors: treating the second syllable as stressed (DOL-fin). Another is pronouncing the /l/ and /f/ too lightly or turning /ɒ/ into /æ/. Also, many substitute /d/ with /t/ in quick speech. Correction: keep the /ˈdɒl/ onset solid with a clear /l/, then release the /f/ into a relaxed /ɪ/ or /ə/ depending on accent. Practice with minimal pairs: dolf vs dolphin. IPA cues help: /ˈdɒl.fɪn/.
US/UK/AU share a primary stress on the first syllable with an /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ vowel in the first syllable, followed by a reduced second syllable. US often uses broader /ɑ/ or /ɒ/ and a darker /ɒ/ in careful speech; UK and AU lean toward /ˈdɒl.fɪn/ with a flatter second syllable and a clear /l/ and /f/. Rhoticity is generally non-rhotic in UK and AU to some extent, influencing vowel quality in the following syllable, especially in connected speech.
Difficulties center on the consonant cluster /l.f/ and the unstressed second syllable. The /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ in the first syllable can vary by accent, affecting perceived stress and vowel length. The blend /lf/ requires precise tongue contact; beginners often insert a vowel between /l/ and /f/ or blend them too loosely. Focus on holding /l/ lightly but clearly, then release into /f/ without an intrusive vowel.
Is the final /n/ syllabic in fast speech? Answer: In careful speech, yes, you articulate /n/ as an alveolar nasal with full tongue contact. In rapid speech, the /n/ can become syllabic or almost vanish, especially if the preceding vowel is lax. To maintain clarity, finish with a crisp alveolar /n/ and avoid nasalization of the preceding vowel.
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- US: rhotic influence may color the /ɪ/ in the second syllable; keep a shorter, crisper schwa-like /ə/ in casual speech. - UK: keep a slightly longer /ɒ/ with less vowel reduction in the second syllable; emphasize the /l/ clearly. - AU: tends toward flatter intonation; maintain the /l/ and /f/ clarity, and avoid over-lengthening the first syllable. IPA cues help: US /ˈdɑl.fɪn/, UK /ˈdɒl.fɪn/, AU /ˈdɒl.fɪn/.
The word dolphin traces to the Old English dolfin or dolfinne, which itself derives from the Latin delphinus, borrowed from the Greek delphís (delphís, delphís) meaning ‘a dolphin or the marine mammal.’ The Greek root delphis is linked to delphino- in modern scientific terms, and also to delphin (meaning ‘dolphin’). Through Latin, the term entered English in the early medieval period, consolidating its use to refer specifically to the toothed marine mammals of the family Delphinidae. The semantic arc moved from a general sea-creature designation toward precise zoological classification, paralleling broader taxonomic efforts in Europe during the 16th–18th centuries. The first known English usage appears in medieval bestiaries adapted from Latin texts, with later scientific adoption in natural history works. Over time, the word has maintained its primary zoological meaning while also permeating cultural references to intelligence, agility, and grace in water-bound contexts.
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Words that rhyme with "dolphin"
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