FAWR-wurd
/ˈfɔˌɹwɝd/
foreword is pronounced FAWR-wurd (/ˈfɔˌɹwɝd/). Foreword is a short introductory essay at the beginning of a book, typically written by someone other than the author to set context or endorse the work. It is distinct from a preface and should be concise, formal, and informative, guiding readers on what to expect. In pronunciation terms, it is pronounced with two syllables, stressing the first, and ends with a light, unstressed final /wɜːrd/ in many dialects.
Foreword is a short introductory essay at the beginning of a book, typically written by someone other than the author to set context or endorse the work. It is distinct from a preface and should be concise, formal, and informative, guiding readers on what to expect. In pronunciation terms, it is pronounced with two syllables, stressing the first, and ends with a light, unstressed final /wɜːrd/ in many dialects.
"- The foreword by the critic offered valuable context for the novel."
"- She penned the foreword for the anthology, explaining its themes."
"- A renowned scholar provided a foreword to the history volume."
Foreword is pronounced with two syllables, stress on the first: /ˈfɔːrwɜːrd/ in US and UK IPA representations. The initial /fɔːr/ combines an open back rounded vowel followed by a rhotic ending, while the second syllable /wɜːrd/ sounds like “word” with a subtle /ɜː/ vowel plus a rhotic cue. The final “d” is light; avoid tensing before it. Practice by saying ‘FOR-word’ with a smooth link between syllables to keep it natural. Audio references like standard dictionaries or pronunciation tools can help align your mouth positions.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress (say-foreword rather than FOR-word), mispronouncing the second syllable as /wərd/ without the proper /ɜː/ vowel (you might say /ˈfɔːrwɜːd/ clearly), and flattening the /ɔː/ into a short vowel. To correct: keep a clear first-syllable vowel /ɔː/ with emphasis, then tilt into a reduced /ɜː/ in the second syllable while maintaining light /d/. Recording yourself can help you hear the subtle vowel transition.
In US, the first syllable uses /ɔː/ with a strong rhotic /r/ before the second syllable; in UK, /ɔː/ is common with a non-rhotic or weaker rhotic influence, and the second syllable /wɔːd/ can shift to a more open /wɔːd/ quality depending on speaker. Australian tends to be closer to US in rhoticity but with distinct vowel length and diphthong shifts; the /ɔː/ may sound broader and the /ɜː/ in the second syllable may reduce slightly. Overall, the stress pattern remains strong on the first syllable across all three variants.
The difficulty lies in the subtle vowel in the second syllable and the transition from /ɔː/ to /ɜː/ while keeping the final /d/ quiet and natural. The onset in the second syllable is a /w/, which creates a glide that can be mispronounced as /woɹd/ if you don’t release the /w/ cleanly. Practicing with minimal pairs that emphasize the /ɔː/ to /ɜː/ shift helps solidify the rhythm and avoids reducing the first syllable too much.
Foreword presents a two-syllable pattern with a strong first syllable and a lighter second, where the /w/ acts as a linking consonant into a mid-back vowel /ɜː/ or /ɔː/ depending on accent. The key is keeping the onset of the second syllable as a distinct, lightly pronounced /w/, and not merging into a single long vowel. IPA references: US /ˈfɔːrwɜːrd/, UK /ˈfɔːˌwɔːd/, AU /ˈfɔːˌwɔːd/.
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Foreword derives from a compound of fore- (before, in front) and word (speech, statement). The sense evolved in English as early as the 16th century, with writers occasionally using foreword to describe a leading or preliminary statement accompanying a text. The term gained standardized usage in publishing in the 18th–19th centuries, aligning with the practice of placing a short written piece before the main text. Historically, foreword often implied an endorsement by a notable figure who introduces the work, contrasts with the author’s own preface or introduction, and serves to position the reader and frame the book’s purpose. The word’s semantic emphasis on ‘before’ and ‘speech’ mirrors its function: a spoken or written statement placed at the outset, guiding interpretation and highlighting significance before the main body begins.
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Words that rhyme with "foreword"
-ord sounds
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