One syllable: groom.
groom
/ɡɹum/
groom is pronounced groom (/ɡɹum/). It has one syllable (groom), with the stress on "groom". Groom (noun or verb) refers to preparing or styling someone or something for appearance, or to the act of tending one's own or another’s cleanliness and attire. It can also mean the person who attends to horses. In pronunciation terms, it is a short, single-syllable word with a long /uː/ vowel when stressed in verb form, and a distinct, clipped consonant onset. The meaning shifts with context, but the phonetic core remains the same: /ɡruːm/ in broad use.
Groom (noun or verb) refers to preparing or styling someone or something for appearance, or to the act of tending one's own or another’s cleanliness and attire. It can also mean the person who attends to horses. In pronunciation terms, it is a short, single-syllable word with a long /uː/ vowel when stressed in verb form, and a distinct, clipped consonant onset. The meaning shifts with context, but the phonetic core remains the same: /ɡruːm/ in broad use.
"He will groom the horse before the race."
"She hired a stylist to groom her for the gala."
"You should groom your portrait subjects to look their best."
Pronounce as /ɡruːm/ with a hard /g/ onset, a long close back rounded vowel /uː/ (like 'food'), and a final /m/ nasal. Stress is on the single syllable. In careful speech, you’ll articulate a rounded lip shape for /uː/ and slightly retracted tongue toward /ɹ/ and /l/ positions for the onset blend, ensuring the vowel isn’t shortened. Audio cues: You’ll hear a prolonged vowel before the final /m/, similar in length to 'room'.
Common errors include shortening the /uː/ to a lax /u/ as in 'goose' without length, or dropping the final /m/ into a nasalized or broadcasted form. To correct, ensure the vowel is long (/uː/), keep the lip rounding consistent, and finish with a clean /m/ without voicing changes. Another mistake is adding an extra vowel before /m/, producing /ˈɡruːɪm/. Practice by holding /uː/ and closing with a steady /m/.
In US English, /ɡruːm/ with a rhotic accent, the /r/ is pronounced before the /uː/. UK English typically has a clear /ˈɡruːm/ with less rhotic influence in non-rhotic dialects, though most modern UK speakers pronounce /r/ in linked speech. Australian English mirrors US vowel quality but often with slightly narrower /uː/ and a lighter /r/ in some contexts. Across accents, the key is maintaining a long /uː/ and a final nasal /m/ while adjusting rhoticity.
The difficulty centers on sustaining a long /uː/ in a short, single-syllable word and coordinating the rounded lip shape with the close back vowel while producing a crisp final /m/. Some speakers diphthongize inadvertently, making /ɡruːɒm/ or /ɡroʊm/. The challenge is maintaining length and placing the tongue high and back for /uː/ while transitioning to /m/. Practicing with minimal pairs helps lock in the vowel duration and lip posture.
Groom is unique because the vowel is long and closed (/uː/) in a one-syllable word, with a precise articulation of the /ɡ/ onset and a final /m/ that does not release into a vowel. The word’s simplicity hides subtle variations in lip rounding and jaw position across dialects, especially in fast speech where the vowel can be shortened slightly without losing intelligibility. Focus on keeping a single, steady vowel length.
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Groom comes from the Old English word gromm meaning ‘man, male person’ or ‘servant’ and is related to the verb grimmian ‘to fear’ via uncertain pathways, evolving through Middle English with the sense of a male attendant or retainer. The important modern senses—someone who takes care of a horse (stable groom) and the act of preparing or tidying someone for presentation (grooming) — developed by the 16th–18th centuries as service roles in households and equestrian contexts shifted toward grooming for appearance. The root concept persisted in occupational titles (groom of the chamber) and extended metaphorically to personal care, where grooming implies deliberate, careful attention to appearance and hygiene. First known usage in print appears in medieval household records and drama where a groom was a servant, evolving to its current, broader modern sense in the early 18th century with the rise of refined grooming practices and professional stylists.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "groom" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "groom" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "groom"
-oom sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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