2 syllables: La, bor. Stress on La.
LAY-bur
/ˈleɪbɚ/
Labor is pronounced LAY-bur (/ˈleɪbɚ/). It has two syllables (La-bor), with the stress on "La". Labor (noun) refers to work, especially systematic, strenuous, or prolonged effort, or the act of childbirth in medical contexts. It can denote the physical or mental exertion required to accomplish a task, or a grouping of workers organized for collective bargaining. The term appears across everyday work talk and technical or medical discourse, with emphasis on effort, process, or timing.
nounLabor (noun) refers to work, especially systematic, strenuous, or prolonged effort, or the act of childbirth in medical contexts. It can denote the physical or mental exertion required to accomplish a task, or a grouping of workers organized for collective bargaining. The term appears across everyday work talk and technical or medical discourse, with emphasis on effort, process, or timing.
"The union negotiated better safety standards for the labor force."
"Much of the project’s success depended on the sheer labor of the volunteers."
"She went into labor last night and is expected to deliver soon."
Pronounce it LA-bər in US English (ˈleɪ.bɚ), with primary stress on the first syllable and a rhotacized final schwa. In UK English, it’s LA-bə (ˈleɪ.bər) with a non-rhotic ending in many accents, often sounding like 'lah-buh' but still with primary stress on the first syllable. In Australian English, use LA-bɚ with a near-schwa ending and a crisp starting diphthong. Start with the /eɪ/ in the first syllable, then relax the second syllable to /ɚ/ or /ə/ depending on accent.”
Common errors include pronouncing the second syllable as a full ‘or’ or ‘or’ vowel like in ‘laboratory’ or over-emphasizing the second syllable to rhyme with ‘labor.’ Correct by reducing to a short, neutral schwa or rhotacized schwa: /ɚ/ in US, or /ə/ in UK. Also watch for misplacing the /ˈleɪ/ diphthong; keep it as a clean, single /eɪ/ followed by a quick relaxed ending. Practicing with minimal pairs like ‘layer/laser’ can help stabilize the two-syllable pattern.”,
US: /ˈleɪ.bɚ/ with rhotic /ɚ/ ending. UK: /ˈleɪ.bər/ often non-rhotic in many dialects, with a weaker ending vowel or /ə/; US-like diphthong in the first syllable remains /eɪ/. AU: /ˈleɪ.bə/ or /ˈleɪ.bɹə/, with a lightly pronounced second syllable, more centralized vowel and a non-rhotic tendency across many speakers. In all, the first syllable retains /leɪ/, but syllable 2 varies: US /ɚ/, UK /ər/ or /ə/, AU /ə/.
The difficulty centers on the unstressed second syllable and the rhotacized ending in US English. The sequence /lɛɪ/ with a strong first syllable followed by a reduced /ɚ/ or /ə/ can cause vowel reduction and consonant linking issues. Learners may also misplace the tongue for the /ɚ/ sound or collapse it into a plain /r/ or /ə/; focus on keeping the final vowel relaxed and distinct from the first vowel. Recording and comparison with native samples can help.
Pay attention to the first-syllable diphthong /eɪ/ and the final rhotacized/unstressed vowel. The second syllable typically bears less emphasis, so avoid lengthening it. In non-rhotic UK speech, the final /r/ may not be pronounced; in US speech, you’ll hear a clear /ɚ/. Use your mouth to round the lips slightly for /eɪ/ and relax the tongue while ending with a soft, quick /ɚ/ or /ə/.
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Labor originates from the Latin labor, meaning ‘work, toil, or effort.’ It passed into Old French as labour and into Middle English as labour, with the form differences between British English (labour) and American English (labor) reflecting broader orthographic standardization in the 18th–19th centuries. The word’s core sense—physical or cognitive exertion—developed through Latin usage in legal and military contexts and broadened in the medieval period to include labor as a collective body of workers (labor as a class). By the Modern era, labor also acquired specialized senses in medicine (the process of childbirth) and economics (labor as a factor of production), with the pronunciation in US English contracting the second syllable slightly and with a non-rhotic British variant often pronounced with a more rounded vowel in certain dialects. First known uses in English date from the 14th century, with evidence of “labour” appearing in law and labor-related texts in the 15th and 16th centuries, before the spelling standardization of modern American English. The word’s adaptability across fields—industrial, social, medical—helped cement its ubiquity in both everyday speech and specialized discourse.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Labor" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Labor" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Labor"
-bor sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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