3 syllables: Go, mor, rah. Stress on mor.
guh-MAW-ruh
/ɡəˈmɔɹə/
Gomorrah is pronounced guh-MAW-ruh (/ɡəˈmɔɹə/). It has three syllables (Go-mor-rah), with the stress on "mor". Gomorrah is a proper noun referring to a biblical city synonymous with vice and destruction. It is commonly used in literature and discourse to evoke historical or moral judgement. In pronunciation, it is stressed on the second syllable, with a soft initial schwa and a rounded, open-mid vowel in the second syllable, followed by a rhotacized ending in many pronunciations.
nounGomorrah is a proper noun referring to a biblical city synonymous with vice and destruction. It is commonly used in literature and discourse to evoke historical or moral judgement. In pronunciation, it is stressed on the second syllable, with a soft initial schwa and a rounded, open-mid vowel in the second syllable, followed by a rhotacized ending in many pronunciations.
"- The city of Gomorrah is referenced in the ancient text as a warning about moral decline."
"- Some scholars draw parallels between Gomorrah and modern-day cities in their analyses."
"- The preacher warned of Gomorrah-like consequences if communities ignore ethical standards."
Pronounce as /ɡəˈmɔːrə/ (US/UK) with stress on the second syllable: guh-MAWR-uh. Start with a light, unstressed schwa /ə/, then an open-mid back vowel /ɔː/ in the second syllable, and end with a relaxed /rə/. Think of “guh-MAWR-uh.” For Australian, use /ɡəˈmɔːrə/ as well, keeping /ɔː/ lengthened. Audio reference: compare with standard dictation recordings for similar biblical terms.
Common errors include misplacing the primary stress on the first syllable (go-MOR-rah) and pronouncing the middle vowel as a short /ɒ/ or /ɔ/ without length, yielding /ɡəˈmɒrə/ or /ɡəˈmɔrɪə/. Correct by elongating the /ɔː/ and keeping the final /rə/ unstressed. Ensure the initial weak syllable is reduced to /ə/ and that you don’t insert a hard /oʊ/ diphthong in the second syllable. Practice with minimal pairs to lock in the correct rhythm.
In US and UK, the second syllable uses a long /ɔː/ before a rhotacized /rə/, yielding /ɡəˈmɔːrə/. US rhoticity keeps the final /r/ pronounced; UK may have a slightly reduced final /ə/ or a non-rhotic tendency in careful speech, giving /ɡəˈmɔːrə/ with a softer final /ə/. Australian typically aligns with non-rhotic tendencies in careful speech but often preserves the /r/ in careful speech, resulting in /ɡəˈmɔːrə/ with a trilled-like or tapped end depending on speaker. Reference IPA consistently shows /ɡəˈmɔːrə/ across regions for standard delivery.
Three key challenges: the middle /ɔː/ vowel length and quality, the Schwa-initial unstressed syllable, and final syllable rhyme with /ə/ rather than a clear vowel. The combination of a stressed high-mid back vowel and a soft, reduced initial syllable requires precise mouth positioning and timing. Practice holding /ɔː/ longer, and ensure the final /rə/ is reduced appropriately in natural fast speech to avoid sounding like /ˈɡɔːmərə/.
Gomorrah features a three-syllable pattern with a strong second-syllable vowel that defines the word’s rhythm. The initial unstressed /ə/ must be clearly reduced, not omitted, and the /ɔː/ must be held before the final /rə/. A learner should also watch for the tendency to replace /ɔː/ with /ɒ/ in some dialects and maintain the clear /rə/ ending rather than a syllabic /r/. Use recordings to compare and mirror native timing.
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Gomorrah derives from the biblical name Gomorrah, likely connected to the Hebrew word אמור (Amor) or possibly from the Akkadian term Ghomor, though the exact origin is debated. The traditional spelling Gomorrah with double r-h points reflects transliteration from biblical Greek and Latin texts, where the town is mentioned alongside Sodom as a symbol of moral decline. First attested in English in the Early Modern period through translations of biblical narratives, Gomorrah’s meaning has remained stable as a legendary metropolis destroyed for vice. Over time, Gomorrah has entered common usage as a toponymic trope representing societal decay, often invoked in sermons, literary criticism, and analyses of moral philosophy. In modern discourse, the name is frequently capitalized and treated as a proper noun, with its pronunciation preserved to maintain its recognized phonetic form across variants of English, while scholars sometimes discuss the word as part of larger Sodom-and-Gomorrah allusions in religious studies, ethics, and cultural studies.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Gomorrah" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Gomorrah" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Gomorrah"
-ora sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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