2 syllables: gol, den. Stress on gol.
GOHL-duhn
/ˈɡoʊldən/
golden is pronounced GOHL-duhn (/ˈɡoʊldən/). It has two syllables (gol-den), with the stress on "gol". Golden describes something made of gold or having the color or appearance of gold; metaphorically, it refers to things prized, valuable, or excellent. In everyday use, it can describe objects, moments, and opportunities that are especially precious, and it often conveys warmth and richness in tone. The term can function as an adjective and, in some phrases, as a compound modifier.
Golden describes something made of gold or having the color or appearance of gold; metaphorically, it refers to things prized, valuable, or excellent. In everyday use, it can describe objects, moments, and opportunities that are especially precious, and it often conveys warmth and richness in tone. The term can function as an adjective and, in some phrases, as a compound modifier.
- Vowel quality: The first syllable should carry a clear /oʊ/ diphthong; avoid turning it into a lax /o/ or /ɒ/. Practice with minimal pairs: go/know, show/shoe to ensure the /oʊ/ is a glide rather than a pure vowel. - Syllable reduction: Do not reduce the second syllable too heavily; /ən/ is a weak, quick vowel; try to keep it shorter than the first syllable but not omitted. - /ld/ cluster: Keep the /l/ and /d/ together; inserting an extra vowel between them will make it sound like “gold-den.”
"The golden sunset washed the harbor in amber light."
"She wore a golden necklace that caught every ray of sun."
"The team celebrated their golden anniversary with a big party."
Pronounce as GOHL-dən with two syllables and primary stress on GOHL. IPA US: ˈɡoʊldən, UK: ˈɡəʊldən, AU: ˈɡoːldən. Start with a long o vowel that glides into a clear L+D cluster; the second syllable is unstressed, a schwa-like vowel often realized as a quick, neutral /ə/ or /ɪ/ sound before the n. Keep the jaw steady, lips neutral or slightly rounded for the first vowel, and finish with a light, relaxed schwa before n.
Two common errors are1) shortening the first vowel to a short /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ instead of the long /oʊ/; ensure you hold the long /oʊ/ glide before the /l/. 2) Over-articulating the second syllable by pronouncing /ən/ as a full syllable like ‘an,’ instead of a quick /ən/ or /n/ with a reduced vowel. To correct: feature a clear /d/ from the /ld/, then a relaxed, unstressed /ən/.
In US, the first vowel often features a clear /oʊ/ glide, with a less rounded /oʊ/ and a light, almost silent second syllable; rhotic /r/ is not present in this word, so no /r/ after vowel. In UK, the first vowel may sound like /əʊ/ in non-rhotic accents, with a slightly more centralized second syllable; in Australian, the /o/ can be broader and the second syllable less reduced, with some speakers showing a shorter /ə/.
Because it combines a tense diphthong /oʊ/ with a syllable boundary that invites a rapid, reduced second syllable. The transition from the rounded /oʊ/ to a light /l/ and then a /d/ can create a brief lag or an over-enunciated /d/ if you’re not careful. The unstressed second syllable often softens to /ən/, which can be easy to swallow too fully, changing rhythm.
A unique feature is the strength of the /ld/ cluster in the first syllable; you must clearly distinguish /ld/ from a potential /l/ followed by a silent /d/ in fast speech. The onset /g/ should be velar with a robust release, then glide into /oʊ/ before the /l/; practice maintaining a tight contact for the /ld/ sequence so you don’t insert an extra vowel.
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- US: Clear /oʊ/ with a pronounced /l/ before /d/; the /ə/ in the second syllable is weak and quick. - UK: /əʊ/ with non-rhotic r, so the second syllable remains reduced; maintain forward jaw position and a slightly tighter lips for the /oʊ/. - AU: Similar to US but with broader vowel onset; keep /ld/ together and shorten the second syllable, using a subtle schwa. IPA references: US ˈɡoʊldən, UK ˈɡəʊldən, AU ˈɡoːldən.
Golden comes from Old English word gold (gold) with the suffix -en to form an adjective meaning ‘made of gold’ or ‘having the color of gold.’ The root is Proto-Germanic gulþą, related to Old Norse gull “gold,” and Gothic gulf. The earliest uses in Old English described objects literally made from gold or colored like gold. Over time, golden broadened to convey not only physical material but also the metaphorical richness, value, and desirability (as in ‘golden opportunity’ or ‘golden age’). The word’s sense of warmth and brightness persists across descendants in Germanic languages, while the extended figurative meanings developed in the Middle Ages and gained modern traction in literary and everyday language. First known attestations date from early medieval English, with stable use through the evolution of color terms and precious-metal vocabulary in English lexicon. The etymology reflects both material origin and symbolic meaning of value and beauty that endures in contemporary usage.
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Words that rhyme with "golden"
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