2 syllables: fa, vor. Stress on fa.
FAY-vur
/ˈfeɪvɚ/
favor is pronounced FAY-vur (/ˈfeɪvɚ/). It has two syllables (fa-vor), with the stress on "fa". Favor refers to giving preferential treatment or support to someone or something, or doing a kind act for someone. It can denote a personal inclination or a request asked in one’s interest. In American English it often appears in phrases like “in favor of” or “please do me a favor.” The term can carry positive, neutral, or even strategic connotations depending on context.
Favor refers to giving preferential treatment or support to someone or something, or doing a kind act for someone. It can denote a personal inclination or a request asked in one’s interest. In American English it often appears in phrases like “in favor of” or “please do me a favor.” The term can carry positive, neutral, or even strategic connotations depending on context.
"She asked a favor from her colleague and offered to return the favor later."
"Most voters favored the candidate after the debate."
"It’s in your best favor to arrive early and be prepared."
You say FA-vor with the primary stress on the first syllable. In US English it’s /ˈfeɪ.vɚ/, where the second syllable is a schwa plus r, so the ending sounds like “-ver.” In UK practice you’ll hear /ˈfeɪ.vɔː/ (non-rhotic), with a longer /ɔː/ in the second syllable. In Australian English it tends toward /ˈfeɪ.və/, a reduced second syllable without an r-coloring in most casual speech. Tip: keep the /eɪ/ as a clean diphthong, then let a quick, soft vowel follow. Audio references: you can hear /ˈfeɪ.vɚ/ in US pronunciation catalogs and /ˈfeɪ.vɔː/ in British diction resources.
Two common errors are pronouncing the second syllable as a full vowel like /ɔː/ and insisting on a clear r at the end in non-rhotic dialects. In many US dialects the ending is a reduced /ɚ/; don’t add extra consonants after it. Another mistake is misplacing the primary stress as FA-vor vs. fo-VOR or using a flat /e/ instead of /eɪ/ in the first syllable. Practice by saying /ˈfeɪ.vɚ/ slowly, then contract into fast speech while keeping the diphthong audible.
US English generally uses rhotic /ˈfeɪ.vɚ/ with a pronounced r in the final syllable. UK English is typically non-rhotic, giving /ˈfeɪ.vɔː/ or sometimes /ˈfeɪ.və/ depending on regional speech, with a longer second syllable and less rhoticity. Australian tends toward /ˈfeɪ.və/ or /ˈfeɪ.vɔː/ in careful speech, with a reduced second syllable similar to British practices but often lighter rhoticity in casual speech. Vowel quality in the first syllable remains a clear /eɪ/ across accents, while the second syllable is the main divergence point.
Two main challenges: the stressed first syllable with /eɪ/ requires a precise diphthong that glides into a quick, reduced second syllable; and the final schwa or reduced vowel in rhotic dialects can blur into a notional /ɚ/ or /ə/ that is easy to swallow in fluent speech. Learners often fall into a monotone /eɪ/ in the first syllable, or insert a full vowel into the second syllable, breaking the natural rhythm. Focus on maintaining a strong /eɪ/ and a tight, short second syllable.
A distinctive feature is how the second syllable reduces in connected speech. In US English you’ll hear a fast, almost whispered /ɚ/ or /ɹ/ that blends the ending with the preceding consonant rapidly, especially in phrases like “in favor of.” This can lead to sounding like /ˈfeɪ.vɚ/ with a near-schwa. In careful speech, you may articulate /ˈfeɪ.vɔː/ or /ˈfeɪ.və/ depending on dialect. Practicing the tiny transition from the active /eɪ/ to the reduced ending helps clarity.
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The word favor originates from Old French favor, from Latin favor, meaning ‘kindness, support, or benevolent regard.’ The Latin term favorem/ favor became Old French faveur and entered English as favor in the medieval period. In early English, favor carried senses of approval, support, or blessing from a patron or deity, often in social or courtly contexts. By the 14th–15th centuries, the sense extended to charitable acts or favors requested of someone, emulating the Latin idea of goodwill done to others. The pronunciation eventually diverged between American English and British English; Americans gravitated to the /ˈfeɪ.vɚ/ form with a rhotocized final vowel in many dialects, while the UK often preserves a clearer non-rhotic final vowel and sometimes a longer /ə/ or /ɜː/ in certain accents. The concept of “favor” as something done for someone’s advantage or as a token of goodwill remains constant, though colloquial usage has expanded to phrases like “in favor of” or “favoritism.” First known uses in English date back to the 14th century, reflecting courtly and beneficent contexts that shaped its modern meanings. Over time, its semantic field broadened to everyday acts of kindness, recommendations, political support, and personal conveniences. The evolution mirrors social norms about reciprocity and patronage that persist in contemporary usage.
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Words that rhyme with "favor"
-vor sounds
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