2 syllables: job, ber. Stress on job.
JAH-bur
/ˈdʒɑbɚ/
jobber is pronounced JAH-bur (/ˈdʒɑbɚ/). It has two syllables (job-ber), with the stress on "job". A term for someone who buys or sells goods in small quantities or acts as an intermediary in a deal; in some regions it can mean a minor merchant or dealer. It may also refer to a person who does routine, often repetitive work. The word can carry historical connotations of trade intermediaries or middlemen in commercial networks.
A term for someone who buys or sells goods in small quantities or acts as an intermediary in a deal; in some regions it can mean a minor merchant or dealer. It may also refer to a person who does routine, often repetitive work. The word can carry historical connotations of trade intermediaries or middlemen in commercial networks.
- You: You might over-articulate the first syllable, turning /ɑː/ into /æ/ or /oʊ/; fix by keeping the jaw lowered and the tongue low and back for /ɑː/. - You: Some learners insert an extra vowel before the second syllable, producing /ˈdʒɑː.bəɹ/; fix by ending with a quick, relaxed /bər/ or /bə/ depending on accent. - You: Confuse the second syllable by adding a clear /ɹ/ in non-rhotic contexts; practice with a muted ending or a soft /ə/ depending on dialect. - You: Mispronounce /dʒ/ as /j/ or /dʒɪ/; practice by starting with a strong “j” sound and transitioning to the short /ə/ after it.
"The local market has a regular jobber who supplies small retailers with everyday goods."
"She worked as a jobber, moving inventory between warehouses and stores."
"In finance, a jobber can refer to a broker who facilitates trades for clients."
US: /ˈdʒɑː.bər/; UK: /ˈdʒɒb.ə/; AU: /ˈdʒɒː.bə/. The stress sits on the first syllable. The first vowel in US is a broad open back vowel; UK uses a shorter, centralized /ɒ/; Australian typically uses a short /ɒ/ with a short schwa in the second syllable. Tip: place your tongue low and back for the first vowel, then relax into a schwa for the second syllable. Audio reference: listen to rhyming pairs like “cobber” or “robber” in pronunciation tools.
Common errors include saying /ˈdʒoʊ.bər/ with diphthongizing the first vowel, or using a full vowel in the second syllable (/ˈdʒɒ.bər/ with a stressed second syllable). Correct it by using the open back /ɑː/ or /ɒ/ for the first vowel and a lax schwa /ə/ for the second syllable. Avoid adding a strong /ɹ/ in the first syllable; the pronunciation ends with a relaxed /ər/ (schwa + r colored vowel in rhotic accents). Use minimal pairs like /ˈdʒɑː.bər/ vs /ˈdʒɔː.bər/ to feel the difference.
In US English, the first syllable is a broad /ɑː/ as in 'father', with a rhotic ending /ɹ/. UK often uses /ɒ/ in the first syllable and a non-rhotic ending, sounding like /ˈdʒɒ.bə/ or /ˈdʒɒ.bə/. Australian typically adopts /ˈdʒɒː.bə/ with a broader, shorter /ɒ/ and a reduced final rhotic vowel. Across all, the key is the first syllable vowel quality and the presence or absence of rhotic /ɹ/ in the final syllable depending on region.
Two challenges: the short, lax second syllable after an open first syllable can blur into a quick /ə/; and the initial alveolar affricate /dʒ/ can be mispronounced as /j/ or /dʒɪ/. Practicing with minimal pairs like /ˈdʒɑː.bər/ vs /ˈdʒɑː.bɚ/ helps. Also, locale-based rhotacization affects the ending, with US /ɹ/ vs UK non-rhotic /ə/; mouth position should stay relaxed in the second syllable to avoid a trailing extra vowel sound.
In US English, final 'er' is typically a rhotic /ər/ spelled with /ər/ in broad transcription, sounding like a quick schwa plus a light /ɹ/. In many UK contexts, the ending is a non-rhotic /ə/ without pronounced /ɹ/ in connected speech, sounding like /-ə/ or /-əɹ/ depending on dialect. Australian often uses a short /ə/ similar to UK, but with a slightly more centralized vowel. The key is keeping the second syllable short and unstressed, avoiding a full /ɚ/ in non-rhotic accents.
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- US: Emphasize rhotic ending; keep /ɹ/ clear but not exaggerated. Vowel in first syllable is broad /ɑː/ or /ɑ/ depending on region. - UK: Non-rhotic tendency; first vowel is /ɒ/ and final /ə/ or /ə/ with reduced /ɹ/. Keep second syllable unstressed and quick. - AU: Similar to UK but with more centralized /ɒ/ and often a softer /ɹ/ in connected speech. Use IPA guides to align subtle vowel shift. - Cross-accent tip: Record yourself reading sentences with the word, compare to references, and adjust vowel length and rhoticity accordingly.
Jobber originates from Middle English jobben, meaning to perform a piece of work or task, and is related to the noun job. The term evolved in merchant vernacular to describe intermediaries who handled small tasks or trades, often in bulk goods, textiles, or general merchandise. By the 16th–18th centuries, jobber referred to wholesale intermediaries who bought from manufacturers and sold to retailers, sometimes acting as stock agents or brokers. In British usage, jobber became common for small-scale wholesalers and itinerant traders; in American English, it retained nuance of a trader or a middleman involved in routine commerce rather than primary production. Over time, certain industries specialized jobbers (textile jobbers, stock jobbers, jobber brokers) reflecting segmented supply chains. The word’s pragmatic, transactional connotation persists in historical and some modern contexts, though the precise duties of a jobber vary by region and industry.
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Help others use "jobber" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "jobber" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "jobber" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "jobber"
-ber sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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