One syllable: large.
lahrj
/lɑɹdʒ/
large is pronounced lahrj (/lɑɹdʒ/). It has one syllable (large), with the stress on "large". Large (adjective or adverb) describes something of considerable size or extent. In everyday use it conveys prominence or intensity, as in “a large crowd” or “a large step.” The term often implies breadth or magnitude relative to context, and also appears in set phrases like “not so large as to be unwieldy.” Overall, it signals scale rather than quantity alone, with nuance shaped by tone and adjacent words.
Large (adjective or adverb) describes something of considerable size or extent. In everyday use it conveys prominence or intensity, as in “a large crowd” or “a large step.” The term often implies breadth or magnitude relative to context, and also appears in set phrases like “not so large as to be unwieldy.” Overall, it signals scale rather than quantity alone, with nuance shaped by tone and adjacent words.
- You may lengthen or diphth a vowel unintentionally; ensure a stable, steady /ɑː/ rather than a shifting vowel. - Avoid turning the final /dʒ/ into /ʒ/ or /tʃ/; it should be a quick, single release. - Don’t add an extra vowel after /dʒ/; keep the kiss-close ending; the word should feel one unit. - In rapid speech, some speakers reduce to /lɑːd͡ʒ/; practice tempo control to preserve clarity. - Common error: pronouncing /l/ as an audible consonant with heavy lip rounding; maintain a light tongue-tip contact to optimize initial /l/ without overemphasizing the release.
"The elephant wore a large hat for the parade."
"They relocated to a large house near the river."
"She wore a large smile after receiving the news."
Pronounce it as /lɑːdʒ/ in non-rhotic accents and /lɑrdʒ/ in rhotic ones; the key is the /dʒ/ sound at the end. Primary stress on the one-syllable word. Tip: start with /l/, open jaw for the back low vowel, then glide into the affricate /dʒ/. You’ll hear a slight length on the vowel before the /dʒ/. Audio reference: try standard pronunciations in Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries for native-like quality.
Common errors include confusing /l/ with a light/weak onset, producing a brighter vowel like /eɪ/ instead of /ɑː/ in /lɑː/, and mispronouncing /dʒ/ as /j/ or /tʃ/. To correct: keep the /l/ light but clear, maintain a low, back jaw position for /ɑː/, then ensure the /dʒ/ is a single, brief release with the tongue tip touching the alveolar ridge before releasing into the affricate. Listen for the compact one-syllable rhythm.
In US, /lɑrdʒ/ with rhotic /r/ after the vowel, and a darker /ɑ/. UK typically /lɑːdʒ/ with a longer, pure /ɑː/ and non-rhotic tendencies in some accents; Australian often merges to /lɑːdʒ/ or /lɑːdʒ/ with vowel quality closer to /ɑː/. The main differences: rhoticity, vowel length, and the presence or absence of linking r. Pay attention to how the vowel color shifts and whether /r/ is pronounced after the vowel.
The difficulty lies in combining a low-back vowel with a delicate /dʒ/ affricate. The /ɑː/ vowel requires a wide jaw'ouverture and precise tongue root retraction, followed immediately by the voiced affricate /dʒ/ without a break. Coarticulation with the liquid /l/ at the start can blur the vowel. Quick speech often reduces vowel length, making it resemble /lɔːdʒ/ or /lɑːdʒ/; careful articulation helps maintain accuracy.
Focus on the immediate /l/ to /ɑː/ transition, ensuring the /ɑː/ is open and back. The /dʒ/ should be a clean, brief release, not a cluster with /r/ or /j/ sounds. Practice with the minimal pair “large” (as in “large-scale”) to feel the contrast between /l/ and the heavier /dʒ/. Always end with a crisp /dʒ/ release to avoid a trailing /j/ or /ʒ/ sound.
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- US: rhotically pronounced /lɑrdʒ/ with a pronounced /r/ after the vowel in most dialects, so you’ll hear a slight /r/ color. - UK: often non-rhotic, resulting in /lɑːdʒ/ with longer /ɑː/ and less noticeable /r/; mouth slightly more retracted for a longer vowel. - AU: tends toward /lɑːdʒ/ or a slightly centralized /a/; vowel may be slightly flatter and consonant crispness remains important. - IPA references: US /lɑːrdʒ/ (rhotic), UK /lɑːdʒ/ (non-rhotic), AU /lɑːdʒ/ or /lɑːdʒ/ with reduced r-coloring. - General: maintain a flat, relaxed jaw for the /ɑː/, then a tight, brief /dʒ/ release; avoid an overly forward tongue position that makes it sound like /lɜːdʒ/ in some accents.
Large originates from the Old French larg (wide, ample) and Latin largus (abundant, plentiful), which entered English in the Middle Ages. Early senses tied to abundance and generosity, then broadened to describe physical size. The word traveled through Old North and Middle English, retaining the core idea of extent, whether in space or amount. By the Early Modern period, large commonly described both measurable size and figurative significance. The modern pronunciation reflects vowel reduction patterns from Middle English and the Great Vowel Shift influences that shaped English vowel quality. First known uses appear in medieval texts where “large” described land, crowds, or wealth, gradually standardizing into the general sense of “of considerable size” used today. In literature, large often paired with modifiers that sharpen scale, such as “large-scale” or “large-scale operations,” further cementing its role as a baseline descriptor of magnitude and breadth across contexts.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "large" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "large" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "large" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "large"
-rge sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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