Jotham is a given name of biblical origin, used as a proper noun for male individuals. It comprises two syllables and a stressed first syllable, and is typically pronounced with quiet initial consonants and clear vowel sounds. The name carries a formal or historical aura and often appears in religious or literary contexts rather than casual speech.
"The preacher spoke about Jotham and his leadership in the ancient scriptural narrative."
"A genealogist mentioned Jotham in the lineage of kings in the chronicle."
"She named her son Jotham to honor a biblical figure."
"During the class, we read the account of Jotham from the Book of Judges."
Jotham is a transliteration of the Hebrew name Yotham (יוֹתָם), from the Bible. In Hebrew, the root letters yod-–tav-–mem combine to form a name meaning likely related to uplift or completion, with the element “yōtām” sometimes linked to God’s protection in the broader onomastic tradition. The name appears in the Old Testament as a son of Jeroboam II and is occasionally connected to the prophetic or royal lineages in Jewish and Christian scriptures. The transliteration into English appears in early Vulgate and King James Version texts, reinforcing its biblical status. Over time, “Jotham” retained its archaic, reverent aura, but usage also broadened in modern times as a distinctive given name with religious associations, while remaining relatively uncommon in contemporary secular naming conventions. First known uses in English Bible translations date to the 16th-17th centuries, with ongoing appearances in religious studies curricula and historical anthologies. The name’s spelling preserves consonant clusters typical of Hebrew transcriptions, and its pronunciation has shifted through Anglicization, stabilizing in modern usage as /ˈdʒɒθæm/ in British or /ˈdʒoʊθæm/ in some US variants.
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Words that rhyme with "Jotham"
-oam sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce it as JOE-tham with the angle of a sharp initial ‘J’ sound (/dʒ/), followed by the long 'o' or short 'o' depending on accent, then a 'th' as in thin (/θ/), and final 'am' as /æm/ or /əm/. IPA averages: US /ˈdʒoʊθæm/, UK /ˈdʒɒθəm/. Emphasize the first syllable; the second is lighter and often reduced in rapid speech. Mouth: start with the tip of the tongue near the alveolar ridge, lip rounding for /oʊ/ or relaxed for /ɒ/. Audio reference: compare with similar names like Joseph to hear the /dʒ/ + /θ/ cluster.
Common errors: (1) Slurring the /θ/ into /s/ or /t/—practice with a light, steady tongue contact to the upper teeth. (2) Mispronouncing the second syllable as /um/ rather than /əm/ or /æm/—practice a schwa or short a with a gentle stop. (3) Dropping the initial /dʒ/ or softening to /j/—aim for the full affricate sound. Correct by isolating the cluster: /dʒ/ as in judge, /θ/ as in think, then add /æm/ or /əm/ without tension.
In US English, expect /ˈdʒoʊθæm/ with a strong diphthong in the first syllable and a clear /θ/; UK often uses /ˈdʒɒθəm/ with a more central /ə/ in the second syllable and less rhotacism. Australian tends toward /ˈdʒɒθəm/ with a flatter /ɒ/ and non-rhoticity; the final syllable may be reduced to /əm/. Across all, the /dʒ/ is consistent, but vowel qualities and the degree of syllable rounding differ by region.
The difficulty centers on the consonant cluster /dʒθ/ at the junction of syllables and the precise 'th' /θ/ sound, which many non-native speakers misplace or blend with /t/ or /f/. Additionally, the second syllable’s schwa or reduced vowel can be tricky, especially under fast speech. Mastery requires targeted practice of the affricate /dʒ/ followed by /θ/ without intrusive vowel glides, and careful reduction to /ə/ or /æm/ in connected speech.
A key distinctive feature is maintaining the /θ/ fricative between the two consonants, ensuring it’s not assimilated to /s/ or /f/. Keep a short, clean interdental contact for /θ/ while not letting the jaw close prematurely. This ensures the name keeps its biblical precision in all dialects, and helps avoid a softer or merged sound at the transition between /θ/ and /æm/.
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