2 syllables: go, rham. Stress on go.
GAW-ruhm
/ˈɡɔɹəm/
gorham is pronounced GAW-ruhm (/ˈɡɔɹəm/). It has two syllables (go-rham), with the stress on "go". Gorham is a proper noun most commonly associated with a surname or place name; it can also appear in brand or family contexts. It denotes a specific, identifiable name rather than a common noun, and is typically articulated with emphasis on the first syllable in many English varieties. The pronunciation is straightforward but can vary slightly by accent, especially in vowel quality and rhotic pronouncing.
Gorham is a proper noun most commonly associated with a surname or place name; it can also appear in brand or family contexts. It denotes a specific, identifiable name rather than a common noun, and is typically articulated with emphasis on the first syllable in many English varieties. The pronunciation is straightforward but can vary slightly by accent, especially in vowel quality and rhotic pronouncing.
"The Gorham family donated a notable artifact to the museum."
"We drove through Gorham on our way to the coastal town."
"Gorham Industries released a new line of silverware this year."
Pronounce as GOR-ham with primary stress on the first syllable. US/UK/AU IPA broadly: /ˈɡɔːrhæm/ for many speakers, with rhotic varieties adding the rhotic /ɹ/; in practice you’ll hear /ˈɡɔːrhæm/ in US and UK broad, while some variants may reduce to /ˈɡɔrəm/ depending on rapid speech. Mouth: start with an open-mid back rounded vowel in the first syllable, then a short “ham” with a clear /h/ and /æ/ or schwa depending on speaker. Keep the /ɡ/ plosive strong, then glide into the short, crisp /h/ and /æ/.
Common errors: (1) Slurring the first syllable into the second, yielding /ɡɔrəm/ or /ɡɔːrəm/; maintain a brief break between /ɔː/ and /rh/ to keep the rhotic consonant heard. (2) Misplacing stress as either syllable, leading to /ˈɡɔrhæm/ or /ˈɡɔːrəm/—keep stress on the first syllable. (3) Vowel quality confusion—some speakers use a more neutral /ə/ or /ɪ/ in the first vowel; aim for a clear open-mid back rounded vowel /ɔː/ or its near variant. (4) Dropping the /h/ or turning it into a glottal stop; keep a pronounced /h/ to avoid an /ɔːr/ digraph.
In US and UK rhotic varieties, the initial vowel tends toward /ɔː/ or /ɔr/ with a visible /ɹ/ in rhotic accents; non-rhotic UK dialects often see a colorless /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ with a weaker postvocalic r. Australian English tends to have a broader /ɔː/ but less rhotic emphasis in some dialects; the /h/ remains audible. Final vowel quality remains tense in all three, but the second syllable’s vowel and the presence or absence of r can shift slightly: US often /ˈɡɔːrhæm/, UK /ˈɡɔːhəm/ with lighter /r/ influence, AU /ˈɡɔːrhæm/ with similar to US but vowel length can be shorter.
Because the name combines a stressed first syllable with a short, crisp second syllable and a subtle but important /h/ before /æ/. Many non-native speakers misplace the tongue for /ɔː/ and either assimilate the /rh/ cluster too early or drop the /h/. The challenge is maintaining the precise vowel height and lip rounding in the first syllable while delivering a clean /h/ and clear /æ/ in the second, across varying accents.
A unique aspect is the presence and timing of the /h/ in the middle of the word after the first vowel; it contributes to a perceptible /rh/ sequence in rhotic accents, affecting the perceived syllable boundary. Some listeners may momentarily hear a light /ɹ/ or a slight dental/tap influence before /æ/. The emphasis on the first syllable and the crisp release of the /h/ are key markers that distinguish Gorham from similarly spelled names.
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Gorham is a toponymic and patronymic surname with roots likely in early medieval Britain, where similar spellings (Gorreham, Gorinham) appeared in charters and land records. The name probably derives from a personal name plus a topographic element, possibly Old English or Norse in origin, with -ham denoting a homestead or settlement. Over centuries, Gorham solidified as a family surname and later as the name of towns or villages in New England and the US, including Gorham, Maine; settlers carried the name from Europe, venerating their lineage or the land they settled. In modern usage, Gorham remains primarily a proper noun used in genealogical, historical, and place-name contexts; it occasionally appears in branding or corporate names tied to families bearing the surname. The first known individuals bearing variants of the name appear in medieval documents, with spelling variations gradually standardizing toward Gorham in several genealogical records by the 17th–19th centuries, reflecting migration and anglicization of the name across regions. over time, the name has acquired cultural associations with heritage, aristocratic lineages in some contexts, and regional identity in places named Gorham.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "gorham" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "gorham"
-ama sounds
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