GAWR-guhn
/ˈɡɔɹɡən/
gorgon is pronounced GAWR-guhn (/ˈɡɔɹɡən/). Gorgon refers to a female monster from Greek myth, typically depicted with serpentine hair and a terrifying gaze. The term can also describe a frightening, grotesque woman. In broader use, it’s a classical allusion often invoked to imply a petrifying presence or formidable person. The word is encountered in literary, mythological, and fantasy contexts.
Gorgon refers to a female monster from Greek myth, typically depicted with serpentine hair and a terrifying gaze. The term can also describe a frightening, grotesque woman. In broader use, it’s a classical allusion often invoked to imply a petrifying presence or formidable person. The word is encountered in literary, mythological, and fantasy contexts.
"The hero faced the Gorgon in the ancient tale, avoiding her deadly gaze."
"Her expression turned the crowd to stillness, a modern Gorgon in a city full of masks."
"The villain’s head, crowned with writhing snakes, resembled a Gorgon in its menace."
Pronounce as /ˈɡɔːrɡən/ in US English, with the main stress on the first syllable. In UK and Australian accents you’ll often hear /ˈɡɔːdʒən/ or /ˈɡɔːgən/ depending on speaker, but the common standard is /ˈɡɔːrɡən/. Start with a strong /ɔː/ in the first syllable, then an /r/ before a hard /g/ and a schwa-like /ən/ ending. Think “GOR-gən” with a clear, open first vowel and a light, unstressed second syllable.
Two frequent errors are turning the first syllable into /ˈɡɔɡ/ or dropping the r sound so it ends up /ˈɡɒn/ or /ˈɡɔːɡən/ incorrectly. Another is misplacing the second syllable’s vowel, saying /-ˈdʒən/ or /-ˈɡən/ with a harder or lighter vowel than the typical schwa. Correct by practicing the full /ˈɡɔːrɡən/ with a distinct /r/ before /ɡ/ and a relaxed, unstressed /ən/ at the end.
In US English you’ll commonly hear /ˈɡɔːrɡən/ with rhoticity, fully pronouncing the /r/. In many UK variants the /r/ may be less rhotic in non-rhotic contexts, producing something like /ˈɡɔːɡən/ with a lighter postvocalic r; Australians typically follow a rhotic pattern similar to US but may show subtler vowel quality in /ɔː/ and a sharper /ɡ/ release. The key difference is rhoticity and vowel length, while the consonant cluster /rɡ/ remains intact in most accents.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /rɡ/ and the two-syllable rhythm with a stressed initial syllable. The /ɔː/ vowel can vary in length and quality by speaker, and the /r/ is often tricky for speakers whose native language has a different r-phoneme or blends. Additionally, a precise final /ən/ with a light schwa can be challenging if you’re not comfortable with unstressed syllables. Focus on maintaining a clean /r/ before /ɡ/ and a relaxed final syllable.
There are no silent letters in gorgon; it’s a two-syllable word with the primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈɡɔːrɡən/. The challenge is not silence but the /r/ + /ɡ/ sequence and the final weak /ən/; many learners will reduce the middle cluster or misplace the stress. Practice with the exact sequence: GOR-gn, keeping a steady beat and ensuring the second syllable remains short and unstressed. IPA anchors help verify accuracy.
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Gorgon comes from Greek gorgón (γοργόν), plural gorgones (γοργονες). The root is believed to derive from *gorgein* meaning 'to stare; to terrify' or possibly from *gorge*, signifying fearsome, dreadful appearance. In classical literature, the term designated three sister monsters—Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale—whose most infamous trait was their petrifying gaze. The word appears in ancient Greek texts and was later adopted into Latin as Gorgones, preserving its mythic sense. Over time, English usage broadened to include any petrifying or formidable female figure, and in modern fantasy, “Gorgon” often denotes a monstrous, statue-like presence. First known uses are attested in translations of Greek tragedies and mythographies circulating in late antiquity and the medieval period, with enduring cultural resonance in poems, novels, and film adaptations that emphasize the grotesque, awe-inspiring nature of the creature.
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Words that rhyme with "gorgon"
-gon sounds
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