One syllable: Job.
jahb
/dʒɑb/
Job is pronounced jahb (/dʒɑb/). It has one syllable (Job), with the stress on "Job". Job is a formal or informal paid position of regular employment. It can also refer to a task or piece of work done for a particular purpose. The term often implies duties, responsibilities, and a role within an organization or project, and it can describe both a specific assignment and the overall occupation a person holds.
nounJob is a formal or informal paid position of regular employment. It can also refer to a task or piece of work done for a particular purpose. The term often implies duties, responsibilities, and a role within an organization or project, and it can describe both a specific assignment and the overall occupation a person holds.
How to Pronounce Job
"She landed a management job at a tech startup."
"He juggled several odd jobs to save for college."
"The job of the project manager is to coordinate teams and deadlines."
Pronounce it as /dʒɑb/ in US English, with an initial affricate /dʒ/ like 'jam,' followed by a low-back /ɑ/ and a clean /b/ at the end. In UK and Australian English, it’s /dʒɒb/, with a shorter, tenser /ɒ/ vowel. The stress is on the single syllable, and there is clear closure at the end. Tip: ensure your tongue makes a brief contact behind the bottom front teeth for the /dʒ/ and finish with a firm bilabial /b/.
Common errors include substituting /dʒ/ with a plain /j/ (y sound) and misplacing the vowel as /i/ or /e/ (like 'jeb' or 'jeb'). Also, some learners reduce /ɑ/ to a schwa in rapid speech, making it sound like /jəb/. To correct: start with the precise /dʒ/ onset by briefly blocking air with the tongue blade and release with a small lip rounding, then maintain a stable /ɑ/ or /ɒ/ before final /b/.
In US: /dʒɑb/ with rhotic absence after onset, vowel /ɑ/ is open back. In UK: /dʒɒb/ and sometimes shorter vowel; non-rhoticity isn’t relevant here because there’s no following consonant, but vowel can be more back and rounded. In AU: /dʒɒːb/ with a more rounded, slightly longer /ɒ/ in some speakers. Overall, keep the ending /b/ hard; the main difference is the vowel quality (/ɑ/ vs /ɒ/).
Because you need precise articulation of the affricate onset /dʒ/, which blends with a short, low back vowel that can easily shift to /ɪ/ or /ə/ in rapid speech. The trailing /b/ must be released cleanly without nasalization, and the lips must close firmly for a strong bilabial stop. For non-native speakers, ensuring the tongue tip lifts to the alveolar ridge briefly before releasing into /dʒ/ is key.
A unique angle is the concise, one-syllable nature that masks subtle vowel quality differences among dialects. The transition from the alveolar ridge contact for /dʒ/ to the bilabial /b/ happens quickly, so accuracy hinges on a crisp release of /dʒ/ followed by an assertive /b/. Focus on the slight rounding of /ɒ/ in UK/AU variants and maintain a hard /b/ to avoid voicing confusion.
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The noun job derives from the late Middle English word jobbe, meaning a piece of work or a barter of a trade. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is believed to be imitative of the sound of a laborer’s effort and the busy nature of work. By the 16th century, “job” referred to a piece of work undertaken for payment, and by the 17th century it had come to denote one assignment or position within a larger system of work. The sense of permanent employment emerged gradually as labor markets evolved, with “job” often used alongside terms like office, position, or post. Over centuries, “job” broadened to include both specific tasks and the general concept of one’s career, while retaining a strong association with paid labor. Today, “job” is ubiquitous in everyday English, carrying connotations of employment status, career trajectory, and the responsibilities tied to a particular role, across many industries and contexts.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Job" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Job" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Job" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Job"
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