2 syllables: Dra, goon. Stress on goon.
druh-GOON
/drəˈguːn/
Dragoon is pronounced druh-GOON (/drəˈguːn/). It has two syllables (Dra-goon), with the stress on "goon". Dragoon (n.) historically, a mounted infantryman or cavalryman trained to fight on horseback and on foot. In modern usage, it can denote a soldier in a heavy, imposing manner or, less formally, any imposing, persistent force. The term carries a dated, military tone and evokes 18th–19th century European warfare.
nounDragoon (n.) historically, a mounted infantryman or cavalryman trained to fight on horseback and on foot. In modern usage, it can denote a soldier in a heavy, imposing manner or, less formally, any imposing, persistent force. The term carries a dated, military tone and evokes 18th–19th century European warfare.
- You’ll likely trip on the vowel: aim for /əˈɡuːn/ with a long /uː/ quality. Practice: hold /uː/ longer than you think. - Consonant boundary: don’t fuse /dr/ and /ɡ/; keep a brief, tidy boundary with a slight pause after /dr/ before /ɡ/. - Stress placement: ensure the second syllable is clearly stronger: /drəˈɡuːn/ rather than /ˈdrəɡuːn/; use contrastive drills to feel the beat. - End-nasal: stop the air cleanly with a crisp final /n/, avoiding nasal emission or trailing voice. - Avoid hyper-articulating the first syllable; reduce to a light schwa.
"The dragoon rode forward, sabre gleaming, ready to engage."
"Ancient texts describe how the dragoon adapted to rapid infantry tactics."
"The protestors faced a dragoon formation blocking the square."
Pronounce as /drəˈɡuːn/ (US/UK/AU share the same). Stress is on the second syllable: dra-GOON. Start with a light, unstressed /drə/ using a schwa, then a clear /ˈɡuːn/ with a long 'oo' vowel like 'goon' and a soft final 'n'. If you’re listening, you’ll hear a crisp stop after the /d/, then the sturdy /ɡ/ and the lengthened /uː/. Practice with: “The dragoon advanced.”
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress by saying /ˈdræɡuːn/ or /ˈdrəɡuːn/—remember the stress is on GOON: /drəˈɡuːn/. (2) Shortening the /uː/ to /u/ or /ʊ/ as in 'goon' vs 'gum'—keep a long, tense /uː/. (3) Slurring /dr/ into /d/ with no light pause—allow a brief /r/ plus a subtle vowel before /ɡ/. Correction: practice with minimal pairs that isolate the vowel: /drəˈɡuːn/ vs /dræˈɡən/.
All three share /drəˈɡuːn/, but rhoticity affects the preceding vowel quality in connected speech. US tends to be a bit darker /əɹ/ with stronger linking; UK often features a slightly shorter /ə/ and crisper consonants; AU may elongate vowels in casual speech. In fast speech, you might hear a reduced first syllable /drəˈɡuːn/ with less emphasis on /ə/. The key is maintaining /ɡuː/ and a clear /n/ across variants.
The difficulty lies in producing the long /uː/ after a consonant cluster and maintaining a clean /n/ at the end while not swallowing the /r/ in American accents. The shift from /dr/ to /ɡ/ in rapid speech can blur the boundary between syllables, and the clausal stress on the second syllable requires precise timing. Focus on starting with a precise /dr/ release, then a long /uː/, before finishing with a light /n/ for a crisp end.
Yes: the second syllable carries the long /uː/ and the consonant cluster /ɡ/ followed by a nasal /n/. Unlike many English words with /ɡn/ sequences, dragoon presents /ɡuːn/ clearly, not /ɡn/; the 'oo' is a tense, tense-lip vowel. This combination—schwa before a strong /ɡ/ and a long /uː/—is a defining feature you’ll want to reproduce in all accents.
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- US: keep /ə/ as a relaxed schwa, ensure rhoticity doesn’t pull the vowel; lengthened /uː/ is essential. - UK: crisper consonants, slightly shorter /ə/; emphasize /ɡ/ with a sharper release. - AU: casual, slightly longer vowels; maintain /ɡuː/ integrity even in fast speech. - IPA anchors: /drəˈɡuːn/ across all; adjust articulation speed per locale; practice linking into following words to preserve fluidity.
Dragoon comes from French dragons, from Old French dragon, ultimately deriving from the Latin draco ‘dragon.’ The word originally referred to a type of pistol or dragoon-? foot-soldier? In English, dragooning emerged in the 17th–18th centuries to describe mounted infantry who could ride to a position, dismount, and fight on foot. The Royalist and later Napoleonic era forces in Britain used dragoons as a distinct cavalry branch, emphasizing mobility and shock action. Over time, “dragoon” also became a verb meaning to compel or enforce obedience, reflecting the coercive, drillmaster-like reputation of dragooned troops. First known uses appear in military texts of the early 18th century, with widespread adoption in the 1700s–1800s as a formal unit designation before broad literary usage solidified the term as well as a metaphor for forceful suppression. Today, “dragoon” is chiefly seen in historical contexts or stylistic phrasing, sometimes used to evoke archaic military rigor or stern authority.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Dragoon" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Dragoon" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Dragoon"
-oon sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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