FLAY-vur
/ˈfleɪvɚ/
flavor is pronounced FLAY-vur (/ˈfleɪvɚ/). Flavor refers to the distinctive taste and aroma of something, as well as the subjective quality or character that makes it appealing. It encompasses taste, smell, and mouthfeel, and is often used metaphorically to describe the character or vibe of a thing. In culinary contexts, flavor results from a combination of ingredients, preparation, and sensory perception. It can also denote the overall impression or nuance of an experience.
Flavor refers to the distinctive taste and aroma of something, as well as the subjective quality or character that makes it appealing. It encompasses taste, smell, and mouthfeel, and is often used metaphorically to describe the character or vibe of a thing. In culinary contexts, flavor results from a combination of ingredients, preparation, and sensory perception. It can also denote the overall impression or nuance of an experience.
- You’ll often mispronounce the first syllable by using a short vowel instead of the /eɪ/ in /fleɪ/; ensure your mouth opens wide and your tongue sits high to produce /eɪ/. - Don’t overemphasize the second syllable; in many dialects it reduces to a schwa or a rhotic vowel without a strong consonant. - For rhotic accents, don’t skip the /r/ quality; keep a smooth, brief rhotacized ending to produce /ɚ/ or /ər/ as appropriate. - In non-rhotic accents, avoid adding an /r/ sound before a vowel; instead, let the /ə/ glide. - Some learners insert extra consonants like /l/ or naively pronounce it as /ˈflæ.vɔr/; practice with IPA to ensure the first syllable uses /eɪ/ and the second reduces.
"The soup has a rich, smoky flavor that lingers after the first sip."
"She described the flavor of the wine as fruity with a hint of oak."
"The debate added depth and flavor to the otherwise dry report."
Pronounce as US: /ˈfleɚ/ or /ˈfleɚ/ with a rhotacized final syllable; UK: /ˈfleɪ.və/ or /ˈfleɪ.və/ in some accents; Australian: generally /ˈfleɪ.və/ or /ˈfloɪ.və/ in less common pronunciations. Primary stress on the first syllable. The vowel in the first syllable is the long a as in ‘play,’ followed by a quick, schwa-like ending. Lip rounding is light, and the /l/ is clear. You’ll hear a slight reduction in the final syllable in rapid speech. Audio reference: try listening to authoritative dictionaries or Forvo entries for your accent.
Common mistakes: (1) Pronouncing the first syllable with a short /æ/ as in ‘flan’ instead of /eɪ/ as in ‘play’; (2) omitting the /r/ quality in rhotic accents or turning it into a vague schwa; (3) over-emphasizing the second syllable or making it a hard /ər/ rather than a subtle /ɚ/ or /ə/. Correction: use /ˈfleɚ/ or /ˈfleɪ.və/ depending on the accent; keep the first syllable tense with /eɪ/ and softly reduce the second syllable to /ɚ/ or /ə/ in US English.
US English often rhymes the final -or with a rhotacized vowel /ɚ/, producing /ˈfleɚ/ or /ˈfleɚ/. UK English tends toward /ˈfleɪ.və/ with non-rhoticity in many regions, so the final syllable can be a lighter /və/ or /və/ and the first syllable uses /eɪ/. Australian English typically favors /ˈfleɪ.və/ with some vowel widening and a non-rhotic tendency; your /r/ at the end may be slight or non-pronounced. Across accents, the key tweaks are vowel quality in the first syllable and the presence or reduction of /r/.
It hinges on two features: a tense, long front vowel in the first syllable and the rhotic or non-rhotic treatment of the final syllable. In US you’re balancing /fleɚ/ with a strong rhotic ending; in UK you’re managing /fleɪ.və/ with a lighter, non-rhotic ending. The quick transition from /eɪ/ to a schwa can be challenging, especially in connected speech where the second syllable reduces rapidly. Practice the glide from /eɪ/ into a soft /ə/ or /ə/ depending on accent.
Flavor has stress on the first syllable: /ˈfleɚ/ or /ˈfleɪ.və/. There are no silent letters in standard pronunciation, but in rapid speech the second syllable may be reduced or assimilate toward /ɚ/ or /ə/ depending on accent. A common search-related nuance is whether to pronounce the second syllable fully as in /-ə(r)/ or shortened as a schwa. For most learners, keeping the first syllable stressed and the second lightly reduced yields natural, widely understood pronunciation.
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- US: Emphasize a rhotacized /ɚ/ in the final syllable: /ˈfleɚ/. Relax the jaw a touch for the /ɚ/. - UK: Use /ˈfleɪ.və/ with a non-rhotic ending; keep the first diphthong long /eɪ/ and end with a light /və/. - AU: Often /ˈfleɪ.və/ with a broad vowel in the first syllable and a soft /ə/ in the second; keep it crisp but not forced. - In all accents, prevent a heavy /r/ unless you’re aiming for an American rhotic realization. Reference IPA: /ˈfleɚ/, /ˈfleɪ.və/.
Flavor originates from the Old French word flavor (also flavor), derived from Latin sapor, which means taste or savor. The English form flavor traces through Middle English, influenced by Anglo-Norman French. The root sapor evolved into the modern English ‘flavor’ with the later addition of the -or suffix from Latin -or in many loanwords. Historically, flavor primarily described taste and scent as experienced by the palate; in literature, its meaning broadened to imply character or distinctive quality. The first known uses in English appear in the 14th–15th centuries in culinary contexts, later expanding into metaphorical language by the 17th–18th centuries as foods and experiences were described by their distinctive “flavor.” The spelling variation flavor/ flavour reflects the broader British vs. American orthographic divergence that emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries. In contemporary usage, flavor equally covers gustatory sensation and figurative texture, from food to cultural vibes.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "flavor" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "flavor" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "flavor"
-vor sounds
-ng) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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