2 syllables: do, nor. Stress on do.
DOH-nur
/ˈdoʊnɚ/
donor is pronounced DOH-nur (/ˈdoʊnɚ/). It has two syllables (do-nor), with the stress on "do". Donor is a person or entity that gives something—typically a living or deceased individual who provides blood, organs, or other materials, or more generally a contributor of any resource. In medicine and philanthropy, donors donate voluntarily to aid others. The term emphasizes the act of giving rather than the recipient.
Donor is a person or entity that gives something—typically a living or deceased individual who provides blood, organs, or other materials, or more generally a contributor of any resource. In medicine and philanthropy, donors donate voluntarily to aid others. The term emphasizes the act of giving rather than the recipient.
"The hospital is seeking a blood donor to help replenish its supply."
"A donor funded the new research wing of the university."
"The organ donor registry helps save lives after death."
In General American, it’s /ˈdoʊ.nər/ with stress on the first syllable. Begin with the diphthong /oʊ/ as in 'go', then the schwa-like /nər/ ending; the second syllable is unstressed and reduced to a light “ner” sound. In British English you’ll hear /ˈdɒn.ə/ or /ˈdəʊ.nɔː/ depending onUK RP variation, but the common, contemporary UK is closer to /ˈdəʊ.nə/ with a stronger first vowel. For Australian, expect /ˈdəʊ.nə/ or /ˈdoː.nə/ with a more centralized final /ə/.”,
Two frequent errors: 1) Pronouncing the first syllable as a monophthong /do/ as in 'dough', forgetting the true /oʊ/ diphthong; instead, aim for /ˈdoʊ/ with rising second element. 2) Overpronouncing the final syllable as /dɔr/ or /nɔr/; the ending is a reduced /nər/ or /nə/. Correction: practice the glide from /oʊ/ to /ɹ/ or /ɚ/ with a lighter, shorter /ər/ or /ə/ at the end. Practice slowly: /ˈdoʊ.nɚ/.”,
US: /ˈdoʊ.nɚ/ with rhotic /ɹ/ and a clear /ɚ/ ending in most dialects. UK: /ˈdɒ.nə/ or /ˈdəʊ.nə/, non-rhotic tends to a schwa-like final; Edinburgh or Glasgow may show vowel shifts. Australia: /ˈdoː.nə/ or /ˈdəʊ.nə/ with a more centralized /ə/ and a vowel closer to /oː/ depending on region; the final syllable tends to be a light schwa. Overall, rhoticity and vowel quality shift across regions; focus on the first syllable vowel length and the unstressed final /ə/.”,
The difficulty lies in producing the high-fronted or mid-back diphthong in the first syllable /oʊ/ and the weak final syllable /ər/ or /ə/. For non-native speakers, coarticulation with the following consonant and the tendency to overemphasize the final syllable can blur the contrast between /ˈdoʊ.nər/ and /ˈdoʊ.noʊ/ or /ˈdə.nə/. Focus on maintaining a compact, reduced final and a crisp glide into /n/ before the schwa.”,
Is the second syllable of donor ever pronounced like 'nor' in some dialects? In most mainstream varieties, the second syllable is reduced and rhymes with 'er' as in 'nurse' or 'butter' in rhotic accents; in some non-rhotic UK accents, the final may sound like /ə/ or /ɜː/. The safest pronunciation for global comprehension is /ˈdoʊ.nər/ in US, /ˈdəʊ.nə/ in UK, with a short, neutral second syllable. IPA cues help you tune to regional norms and avoid mispronunciations.”,
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "donor"!
Donor comes from Latin donare, meaning to give or gift. The noun form donor derives from the late Latin donor, from donare ‘to give’. In medieval Latin, donator referred to someone who gives or committed to give, which then entered Old French as donateur. English adoption followed with donor/donor’s form by the 16th century, used in religious and charitable contexts to describe someone who gives or presents something. The gender-neutral sense of donor as a person who gives, especially in medical contexts (blood, organ, tissue donors), solidified in the 20th century with expanding donor registries and philanthropic frameworks. The word has thus evolved from a general “giver” to a specialized term in medicine and philanthropy, retaining the root idea of voluntary or intentional gifting. First known uses appear in legal and theological texts where the act of giving was formalized, then later in clinical and hospital records as donor cards and organ donation systems emerged. In modern usage, donor emphasizes the agency and voluntariness of the act of giving, often accompanied by vows, registries, and consent frameworks.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "donor" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "donor" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "donor" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "donor"
-ner sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
