4 syllables: Je, ro, bo, am. Stress on bo.
jer-uh-BOH-uhm
/ˌdʒɛɹəˈboʊəm/
Jeroboam is pronounced jer-uh-BOH-uhm (/ˌdʒɛɹəˈboʊəm/). It has four syllables (Je-ro-bo-am), with the stress on "bo". Jeroboam is a historical biblical name, most famously the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the split from Judah. In modern usage, it identifies a large denomination of bottles and, less commonly, a person named Jeroboam. The term carries formal, antiquated connotations and appears mainly in religious or literary contexts.
nounJeroboam is a historical biblical name, most famously the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the split from Judah. In modern usage, it identifies a large denomination of bottles and, less commonly, a person named Jeroboam. The term carries formal, antiquated connotations and appears mainly in religious or literary contexts.
- Catapulting stress to the first syllable (JE-ro-boam) makes the name sound off; you want the strong beat on the second syllable. To fix, practice saying je-RO-boam, placing your breath and tension on the stressed syllable. - Over-articulating the final syllable; Jer-uh-BO-um or Jer-rah-boom both feel heavy. Reduce the final to a light -əm or -om. - Mixing vowel lengths; the middle vowel should be a long O in the stressed syllable. Practice with a slow, elongated second vowel before a quick, quiet final schwa.
How to Pronounce Jeroboam
"The books of Kings recount Jeroboam’s rule and the challenges he faced."
"A carved Jeroboam figure stood on the pedestal in the museum exhibit."
"Some readers are surprised to encounter the name Jeroboam in early English translations."
Pronounce as juh-ROH-buh-əm (US) or juh-ROH-buh-om (UK). Primary stress on the second syllable: /dʒəˈroʊ.boʊ.əm/ in US; keep final -əm lightly reduced. The middle vowel is a long O in the stressed syllable, and the final -am can be a light schwa in many English variants. Audio reference: listen to religious texts or dictionary entries for Jeroboam to hear the natural rhythm.
Common errors include misplacing stress (placing it on the first syllable), pronouncing the middle as a short o like 'jer-uh-BO-am', or turning the final -am into a full vowel rather than a reduced schwa. Correct by emphasizing the second syllable and ending with a light, relaxed -əm or -om depending on accent. Practice the sequence: /dʒəˈroʊ.boʊ.əm/ and vary quickly to balance rhythm across speech.
In US and UK, Jeroboam centers the primary stress on the second syllable with a long O in the stressed vowel: /dʒəˈroʊ.boʊ.əm/ or /dʒəˈrəʊ.bəʊ.ɒm/. Australian English tends to maintain the same stress pattern but the vowels can be more centralized and the final syllable may be reduced more, sounding closer to /dʒəˈɹɒ.bəəm/. The key is distinct, clear second syllable vowel and a lighter final -əm.
The difficulty comes from the multi-syllabic structure, the shift in vowel length in the stressed syllable, and the final unstressed -am cluster which often reduces to a schwa or a lighter -om in rapid speech. Additionally, the juxtaposition of 'ro' and 'bo' consonant clusters can cause hesitation. Focus on a steady second-syllable vowel with a crisp onset for each syllable.
A unique query often asked is whether the final '-am' is pronounced as 'am' or 'em'. The typical form in modern English is a lightly reduced ending: -əm or -om, not an audible long 'a' or a fully pronounced -am. Maintain a light, quick closing to avoid trailing 'ahm' or 'aym' sounds, which would distort the rhythm of the name.
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US vs UK vs AU: - US often uses a clear /dʒəˈroʊ.boʊ.əm/ with a strong diphthong in the stressed syllable; final -əm tends to be a softer, more neutral sound. - UK may render the second syllable with /ˈrəʊ/ and a slightly longer second vowel in -boam, but still keeps the final -əm loose. - AU tends toward reduced final vowels and slightly more rounded vowels in the middle; expect softer lip rounding around the /oʊ/ sequences. IPA: US /dʒəˈroʊ.boʊ.əm/, UK /dʒəˈrəʊ.bəˈɒm/?; AU /dʒəˈroʊ.bə.ɒm/; Practise listening and mimic precisely the second syllable’s diphthong and the light end with a minimal trailing sound.
Jeroboam originates from the Hebrew name Yeroboam (ירבעם), formed from the root י-ר-ב-ע (y-r-b-ʿ) meaning to contend or to increase, with the prophetic element Baʿam, often associated with Baal or a divine oath. The name is found in the Hebrew Bible and is rendered in Greek as Jerōbain. In English, Jeroboam first appears in translations of Kings, with early modern spellings like Jeroboam and Jeroboam, reflecting transliteration practices from Hebrew through Greek into English. The etymology mirrors political ambition (to contend) and divine sanction (omnipresent in royal naming). Over centuries, Jeroboam has remained a recognizable biblical proper noun, used in religious discourse, literature, and sometimes as a symbolic name representing dynastic upheaval. The first known English usage occurs in the King James Bible (1604–1611), where Jeroboam is presented as the first king of the northern kingdom after the division of Solomon’s united realm. The name’s reception in English literature has preserved its regal, antiquated aura, often evoking biblical history rather than contemporary naming.
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Words that rhyme with "Jeroboam"
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