2 syllables: en, dow. Stress on dow.
en-DOW
/ɛˈndaʊ/
endow is pronounced en-DOW (/ɛˈndaʊ/). It has two syllables (en-dow), with the stress on "dow". Endow means to provide with a quality, ability, or asset, typically through a gift or permanent funds. In general, it can also mean to equip or furnish someone or something with a notable or intrinsic characteristic. The term is often used in formal contexts, such as institutions endowed with funds, or to describe innate gifts or features. The word emphasizes provision and lasting effect.
Endow means to provide with a quality, ability, or asset, typically through a gift or permanent funds. In general, it can also mean to equip or furnish someone or something with a notable or intrinsic characteristic. The term is often used in formal contexts, such as institutions endowed with funds, or to describe innate gifts or features. The word emphasizes provision and lasting effect.
- You might insert an extra vowel between the /n/ and /d/ (e.g., /ɪn ɛˈdaʊ/); keep it as /n/ directly followed by /d/ to land the /daʊ/ correctly. - Vowel length: don’t overextend the /ɪ/ in the first syllable; keep it clipped to avoid sounding like ‘in-dow’ with a long vowel. - Stress error: some learners stress the first syllable; ensure the primary stress is on the second syllable (/ɪnˈdaʊ/). - Final vowel: the ending /aʊ/ should rhyme with ‘how,’ not a pure /a/ vowel; avoid dropping the glide.
"The university was endowed with a sizeable donation to fund scholarships."
"Her calm demeanor is endowed with a natural empathy that helps her guide others."
"The foundation plans to endow the new research center with a substantial grant."
Pronounce it as /ɪnˈdaʊ/. The first syllable is a short, unstressed “in” and the second syllable carries primary stress: “-dō” with /daʊ/ rhyming with “how.” Your mouth starts with a quick, closed front vowel, then glides into a diphthong where the tongue moves from /d/ closure to a high back position in /aʊ/. Practice with “in” + “dout.”
Common errors include saying /ɛnˈdaʊ/ with an “e” in the first syllable or reducing the second syllable to /aʊ/ without the initial /d/. Another frequent slip is stressing the first syllable as in “IN-dow” instead of the correct /ɪnˈdaʊ/. To correct, ensure a short, clipped /ɪn/ and place primary stress on the second syllable with a clear /d/ onset before /aʊ/.
In US, UK, and AU, the pronunciation is essentially /ɪnˈdaʊ/. The rhotic influence in some US dialects doesn’t affect this word’s vowel, but you may hear a slightly tighter /ɪ/ in some American regional accents. UK and AU speakers maintain /ˈdaʊ/ with a crisp /d/ onset; the key is keeping the stress on the second syllable and not turning it into a prolonged vowel. Overall, minimal cross-dialect variation exists.
The difficulty lies in the short initial /ɪ/ followed by a strong, secondary consonant onset /n/ and the abrupt onset of the diphthong /aʊ/ in a single stress pattern. Learners often misplace stress, pronounce /ɪn/ too long, or blur the /d/ into the preceding nasal. Focus on a clean /ɪn/ syllable, then a tight /d/ before the /aʊ/ glide, with the entire second syllable carrying the primary beat.
There is no silent letter in endow. The word has two syllables with primary stress on the second: in-DOW. The /d/ is clearly pronounced between the nasal /n/ and the /aʊ/ diphthong. The key is avoiding vowel lengthening on /ɪ/ and ensuring a distinct /d/ onset before /aʊ/. This fosters natural, confident pronunciation in fast speech.
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- US: maintain rhotic clarity but the word itself doesn’t include /r/; ensure /ɪ/ is short and /ˈdaʊ/ is crisp with a strong onset /d/. Vowel quality is reduced slightly due to flapping tendencies in casual speech. - UK: maintain sharp /d/ and clear /aʊ/; non-rhotic tendency doesn’t affect this word, but you may hear a slightly more pronounced vowel space before /aʊ/. - AU: similar to UK, with a potentially closer /ɪ/ and slightly wider diphthong movement in /aʊ/. Keep jaw relaxed, lips rounded for /aʊ/. IPA references: /ɪnˈdaʊ/ across dialects.
Endow comes from Middle English endowe, from Old French endre endower, from en- (intensifier) + dou (old word related to power or gift). The root sense was to “put into one’s possession” or to supply with a gift or endowment. Over time, the term broadened beyond money to describe supplying non-material qualities (talents, resources, attributes) as well as to describe institutions receiving funds to ensure ongoing operations. In medieval and early modern contexts, endowments were primarily financial gifts that created enduring income streams for religious houses, colleges, and scholars. By the 16th–18th centuries, the meaning expanded to include natural attributes or capabilities assigned to a person or organization. The verb form evolved to the contemporary sense of providing or conferring a permanent asset or quality, while the noun endowment denotes the asset itself (e.g., a fund or quality). The first known appearances in English citations appear in legal and charitable documents, with sense refinements paralleling the growth of philanthropic practices in Europe.
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Words that rhyme with "endow"
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