2 syllables: gar, ment. Stress on gar.
GAHR-muhnt
/ˈɡɑɹmənt/
garment is pronounced GAHR-muhnt (/ˈɡɑɹmənt/). It has two syllables (gar-ment), with the stress on "gar". Garment refers to an item of clothing; collectively it denotes attire worn on the body. The word is typically used to describe one article rather than accessories and can function as a count noun (a garment) or as a mass noun in phrases. In common usage, it appears in contexts like fashion, manufacturing, and retail to denote clothing as a category rather than a specific piece.
Garment refers to an item of clothing; collectively it denotes attire worn on the body. The word is typically used to describe one article rather than accessories and can function as a count noun (a garment) or as a mass noun in phrases. In common usage, it appears in contexts like fashion, manufacturing, and retail to denote clothing as a category rather than a specific piece.
"She bought a new garment for the wedding."
"The boutique showcased sustainable garments from local designers."
"Laboratories inspected the fabric garments for quality and fit."
Garment is pronounced with first-syllable stress: /ˈɡɑːr.mənt/ in US/UK English. The first vowel is a broad open back vowel; the second syllable contains a schwa /ə/ and ends with /nt/. Mouth positioning: start with the jaw dropped slightly, tongue low in the back; the r is pronounced in rhotic accents (US), while non-rhotic accents may have a softer /ɹ/ or near-non-rhotic quality. For audio reference, imagine the word as GAR-ment with a crisp 'g' onset and a light, quick ‘ment’ ending.” ,
Common errors include misplacing the vowel in the first syllable (thinking it’s a short /æ/ as in 'garment' basic vs 'garden') and over-articulating the second syllable /mənt/ by adding extra schwa syllables. Another mistake is dropping the /r/ in non-rhotic accents or over-pronouncing it in rhotic accents. To correct: practice GAR-ment with a crisp /ɡ/ onset and a clear /ˈɡɑːr/ in rhotic speech; then reduce the second syllable to /mənt/ with a quick, light touch of /ə/ before the final /nt/.” ,
In US English, /ˈɡɑːr.mənt/ features rhotic /r/ in the first syllable and a strong /ɡɑːr/. In UK English, /ˈɡɑː.mənt/ tends to be non-rhotic or weakly rhotic, with a shorter /ɑː/ and a more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable. Australian English generally aligns with rhotic tendencies but may have a slightly higher tongue position for /ɑː/ and a more centralized /ə/; final consonants are clear. Across all, stress remains on the first syllable, but the exact vowel qualities shift with rhoticity and vowel height.
The difficulty lies in the two-syllable structure with a stressed first syllable and a trailing unstressed /mənt/ that can reduce to /mənt/ or /mən/ in fast speech. The /ɡ/ onset is straightforward, but the /ɑː/ vowel length and quality may vary by accent, and the /r/ can be subtle in non-rhotic varieties. Additionally, the /nt/ cluster at the end can blur when spoken quickly. Practice articulating GAR-ment slowly, then progressively speed up while maintaining the /ɡ/, /ɑː/, /r/ (where applicable), and /mənt/ integrity.
No, garment has no silent letters. Each segment – /ɡ/, /ɑː/, /r/ (in rhotic accents), /m/, /ə/, /n/, /t/ – is pronounced to form the word. The second syllable lunges into a relatively weak /mənt/ with a quick schwa, but none of the letters are silent in standard pronunciation. Be mindful in rapid or connected speech, where vowels may reduce further, but the letters themselves remain present.
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Garment comes from Middle English garmente, from Old North French garmens, garment, related to gar?ant/garmentum, ultimately from Latin germen meaning seed or sprout, but in the evolution of the word it acquired the sense of clothing; the semantic shift likely arose from a broader metaphor where “garm(e)” referred to equipment or gear and then specifically clothing. By the 14th century, garment entered English as a term for clothing worn on the body. Over time, regional spellings varied, consolidating into the modern form garment. The word’s core meaning—an item worn on the body—has remained stable, while its social and industrial associations expanded with fashion, manufacturing, and retail ecosystems in Europe and, later, the English-speaking world. The pronunciation parse shifted slightly in some dialects, but the spelling has remained conservative, preserving the Middle English root. First known usage appears in medieval English texts, where garments were discussed in the context of garments worn for ceremony, labor, or daily life, underscoring clothing as a fundamental human need and social marker.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "garment" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "garment"
-ent sounds
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