2 syllables: go, pher. Stress on go.
GOH-fur
/ˈɡoʊfɚ/
gopher is pronounced GOH-fur (/ˈɡoʊfɚ/). It has two syllables (go-pher), with the stress on "go". Gopher refers to a burrowing rodent native to North America, or informally to a person or thing that retrieves items (often in a repetitive, subservient role). The term can describe either the animal or, in certain contexts, a worker assigned to run errands or perform repetitive tasks. Usage shifts with regional nuance and metaphorical scope.
Gopher refers to a burrowing rodent native to North America, or informally to a person or thing that retrieves items (often in a repetitive, subservient role). The term can describe either the animal or, in certain contexts, a worker assigned to run errands or perform repetitive tasks. Usage shifts with regional nuance and metaphorical scope.
- You’ll often flatten the first vowel, producing /ɡɒfər/ or /ɡɒfə/ instead of /ˈɡoʊ.fər/. Fix by starting with a rounded diphthong /oʊ/ and keeping it tight before easing into a lighter second syllable. - The second syllable is frequently over-articulated; practice reducing to a quick /ər/ or /ə/ rather than an full syllable. Use a light, relaxed tongue and jaw for the ending. - Some speakers insert an extra consonant as in /ˈɡoʊfər/ with a final /ɹ/; in non-rhotic accents you should drop the extra rhotic precision and end with a soft schwa, not a full /r/ sound. - Practice with minimal pairs: go vs. gopher; ogre vs. gopher, to train the exact second syllable. If you find yourself delaying the second syllable, slow down and rehearse the transition.
"The gopher tunnels beneath the yard, leaving fresh mounds of soil on the surface."
"In offices, a gopher is someone who fetches coffee, messages, and supplies."
"During the game, our team relied on a speedy gopher to collect stray balls."
US: /ˈɡoʊ.fər/ with primary stress on the first syllable. The second syllable is a schwa or a reduced “er” sound. UK/AU speakers may say /ˈɡəʊ.fə/ or /ˈɡəʊ.fər/ depending on syllable emphasis. Practically, bite gently into a long “go” then soften the second syllable: gOh-fuh. For most contexts, the US version /ˈɡoʊ.fər/ is expected.
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying /ˈɡɒ.fər/ or /ˈɡoʊ.fɜː/), and producing an unreduced second syllable. Another is over-articulating the second syllable as /ɜːr/ or /ər/ without a schwa. Correct by ensuring primary stress on the first syllable, using /oʊ/ in the first vowel, and reducing the second to /ər/ or /ə/. Practice with minimal pairs like go/ger to lock the contrast.
US pronunciation typically /ˈɡoʊ.fər/ with a clear /oʊ/ and rhotic /ɹ/. UK and AU may prefer /ˈɡəʊ.fə/ and often reduce the final to /ə/ or /ɐ/ in rapid speech; rhoticity is less pronounced in many British variants, leading to a more centralized /əʊ/ sequence. In Australian speech, you may hear a closer /əʊ/ diphthong with a non-rhotic or weak rhotic cue depending on speaker. The main differences lie in the vowel quality of the first syllable and the strength of the rhotic final consonant.
Two challenges: the initial /ˈɡoʊ/ digraph’s rounded vowel and the final schwa-like /ər/ in rapid speech can blur, especially for non-native speakers. The transition from stressed to unstressed syllable requires maintaining legato rhythm while reducing the second vowel. Additionally, the /ɹ/ or lack thereof in non-rhotic varieties affects perceived accuracy. Mastering the glide in /oʊ/ and the quick, subtle /ər/ or /ə/ will reduce mispronunciations.
The first syllable houses a diphthong /oʊ/ that slides from /o/ to /ʊ/ like in go; the second syllable often reduces to a schwa with a soft /ɹ/ in rhotic accents or to a light /ə/ in non-rhotic accents. Keeping the first syllable tense and the second syllable relaxed creates the natural two-beat rhythm unique to gopher. Pay attention to the rounding of the lips on /oʊ/ to differentiate from a lax /o/ sound.
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- US: Emphasize rhotic /ɹ/ ending and the /oʊ/ diphthong; keep second syllable compact. IPA: /ˈɡoʊ.fɚ/ in some transcriptions. - UK: Less rhotic emphasis; end with /ə/ or /ə/ and neutralize final r; IPA: /ˈɡəʊ.fə/. - AU: Similar to UK but with more American-like /oʊ/ in some speakers; ensure the final vowel is relaxed and quick; IPA often /ˈɡəʊ.fə/. - Practical cues: shape your lips to round for /oʊ/ and immediately relax the jaw for the second syllable. - Common trap: inserting an extra ‘r’ in non-rhotic speakers; avoid finishing with a fully articulated /r/.
Gopher derives from the Algonquian word pogon or pahon, reflecting the animal’s burrowing behavior. The modern English term likely comes through early American usage, where the animal’s burrowing habits were observed by settlers and Indigenous speakers alike. The word first appears in colonial texts in the 17th–18th centuries, aligned with other North American rodent names. Over time, “gopher” acquired additional metaphorical meanings, notably to describe a person who performs errands or menial tasks, a sense that solidified in American slang by the 19th and 20th centuries. The dual animal/metaphorical meanings are now common in cross-context usage, from casual conversation to workplace slang and sports commentary, where a “gopher” is someone who fetches items or information or who performs repetitive subservient duties. The term is now widely recognized in North American English, with regional and ironic uses depending on context and tone.
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Words that rhyme with "gopher"
-per sounds
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