Glutton is a noun for a person who habitually consumes more food than is healthy or necessary. It can also describe a person who indulges excessively in any activity. The term often carries a moral undertone, signaling excess and lack of restraint, though it may be used humorously in casual speech.
"She regretted the late-night snack, realizing she had been a glutton for chips."
"The partygoer earned the nickname 'glutton' after he devoured three helpings of dessert."
"As a self-professed glutton for knowledge, he reads every night and never stops learning."
"In the game, she was a glutton for punishment, taking on the hardest level without complaint."
The word glutton originates from the Latin gluttire, meaning to swallow, and the Old French glouton, from cliot? gloutre, meaning glutton. It entered English in the late Middle Ages, around the 13th century, initially used in religious and moral discourse to condemn excessive eating. The root glutt- derives from Latin glut-, gluttus, related to swallowing and consumption, while the suffix -on in French often denotes a person belonging to a group or performing an action. Over time, glutton acquired broader application in literature and everyday speech, sometimes taking on ironic or humorous tone. By the 19th and 20th centuries, it settled as a strongly negative descriptor for someone who overindulges, not strictly limited to food but extending to other compulsive appetites. The term maintains a pejorative register but can be used playfully when paired with self-deprecating humor. The concept reflects cultural concerns about self-control, temperance, and appetite that have persisted across English-speaking societies. First known use attested in medieval texts where moralizing tales warned readers about excess, the word evolved through literary works and sermons before becoming common in modern English vocabulary.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Glutton" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Glutton" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Glutton" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Glutton"
-ton sounds
-ten sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce it as GLUHT-n̩, with primary stress on the first syllable. The first syllable uses a short lax vowel similar to cat but slightly rounded, followed by a light syllabic n. IPA: US /ˈɡlət.n̩/, UK /ˈglʌt.ən/, AU /ˈɡlʌt.ən/. Think of the 'glut' part as a quick, clipped 'glut' and the second syllable as a small, unstressed 'n' vowel. Audio references: try Cambridge or Forvo entries for glutton to hear the syllabic n in context.
Common errors: (1) Overpronouncing the second syllable by adding a full vowel like 'uh' after the n, instead keep it syllabic as n̩. (2) Slurring to /ˈɡlɒtən/ or /ˈglʌtɛn/ when many expect a stressed first syllable with a short vowel; keep the short /ə/ or /ɐ/ in unstressed position. (3) Misplacing the t in the middle; ensure a light, quick /t/ without a full release that adds extra syllables. Correction tips: practice a clipped /t/ immediately before the syllabic n, and rely on a quick, almost single-beat second syllable.
US: /ˈɡlət.n̩/ with a light, unstressed second syllable and syllabic n. UK/AU: /ˈglʌt.ən/ or /ˈglɒt.n̩/ in some dialects; rhoticity is less pronounced in many UK accents, so the r sound is minimal. Vowel quality differs: US often uses a schwa-like /ə/ in the second syllable; UK may preserve a short /ʌ/ or /ɒ/ depending on region, with less vowel reduction in fast speech. Overall, the first syllable vowel is often short and lax in all, but the exact vowel height varies by region.
Three main challenges: (1) The initial cluster /ɡl/ requires precise lip-together onset with a quickly released /l/ leading into a short, open-mid vowel. (2) The second syllable is reduced to a syllabic n; many speakers insert a vowel, turning it into /nə/ or /ən/. (3) Final consonant timing: the /t/ must be lightly released just before the syllabic n, avoiding a double syllable effect. Practicing tight onset, rapid nucleus, and a syllabic coda helps reduce hesitation.
The key unique feature is the syllabic n in the second syllable, written as n̩. Many learners default to an /ən/ or /nə/ ending. Maintaining a syllabic n without a following vowel keeps the word compact: GLUHT-n̩. Use a quick, almost unvoiced final n and keep the mouth from reopening after the /t/. IPA references: US /ˈɡlət.n̩/, UK /ˈglʌt.ən/ with a possible non-syllabic ending in some accents.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Glutton"!
No related words found
