2 syllables: Leo, pard. Stress on Leo.
LEP-urd
/ˈlɛpɚd/
Leopard is pronounced LEP-urd (/ˈlɛpɚd/). It has two syllables (Leo-pard), with the stress on "Leo". Leopard is a mammal of the cat family with a spotted coat, known for agility and stealth. As a noun, it refers to either the animal or a pattern featuring dark spots on a pale background. In everyday language it can describe something fast and elusive, or be used in phrases like “leopard print.”.
nounLeopard is a mammal of the cat family with a spotted coat, known for agility and stealth. As a noun, it refers to either the animal or a pattern featuring dark spots on a pale background. In everyday language it can describe something fast and elusive, or be used in phrases like “leopard print.”
"The leopard stalked through the tall grass, eyes fixed on its prey."
"A leopard's coat is renowned for its distinctive rosettes."
"She wore a dress with bold leopard print that drew admiring looks."
/ləˈɒpərd/ (US) or /ˈlɛəpəd/ (UK). The stress is on the second syllable: le-OP-ard or le-OP-erd. Start with a relaxed schwa or mid-central vowel in the first syllable, then a clear /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ for the second, and finish with /d/. In rapid speech, some speakers reduce the final sound to a light /ɹ/ or even drop it in casual clips, but the standard form keeps the final /d/.
Common errors: 1) Placing stress on the first syllable (ˈliː-uh- pərd) instead of the second. 2) Using a long /i/ or /iː/ in the first syllable rather than a neutral schwa or /ə/. 3) Ending with an unreleased or overly strong /d/. Correction: keep /ləˈɒpərd/ (US) or /ˈlɛəpəd/ (UK); ensure the second syllable has clear /ɔ/ or /ɒ/ before /p/ and finish with a light /d/. Practice with minimal pairs like leopard vs. leop-ard in quick chains to fix the rhythm.
US typically /ləˈɒpərd/ with a rhotacized ending and a lighter second syllable; UK often /ˈlɛpəd/ or /ˈlɛəˌpɔːd/ depending on speaker, with a less pronounced /r/ and a longer second vowel; Australian tends toward /ləˈɒpəd/ with a flatter, tenser vowel in the second syllable and a non-rhotic tendency. In all, the middle and final consonants are generally clear, but rhoticity and vowel quality shift the perceived rhythm and tone.
The difficulty lies in the two-syllable rhythm with a stressed second syllable, plus a mid-vowel shift between /ɒ/ or /ɔ/ and /ə/. The sequence of consonants /l/ + /ɒ/ or /ɛ/ + /p/ + /ərd/ can lead to misplacement of the /p/ and mis-timing of the final /d/. Also, the final syllable can reduce in casual speech, which muddies the exact phonetic target. Focusing on stress placement and crisp /p/ before /d/ helps stabilize the pronunciation.
In standard pronunciations, the stress is on the second syllable: le-OP-ard in US and le-OP-əɹd in some UK varieties. The first syllable remains unstressed with a relaxed /lə/ or /ˈlɛ/ onset depending on the accent. A few regional readings may show lighter initial emphasis in rapid speech, but the norm across major dialects centers the emphasis on the second syllable.
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Leopard derives from the Old French leopard, from Latin leopardus, which in turn comes from Greek leopardos. The Greek base le- is not a simple prefix and the -pard- portion traces to an ancient word for leopard used in Greek texts. The term entered English via Old French in the medieval period, aligning with other big-cat names. The semantic shift includes the animal itself and, later, the pattern associated with spotted coats (leopard-print). Over time, the animal’s reputation for stealth, power, and beauty fed into metaphorical uses in art and literature. The linguistic development shows a path from Classical references through Romance languages into English, with the early modern period solidifying the word as both zoological noun and cultural symbol of luxury and wildness. First known English attestations are medieval, often in coats of arms and natural history descriptions, reflecting the cross-cultural awareness of Asia and Africa where the leopard is native. By the 19th and 20th centuries, “leopard” broadened into fashion and idiomatic expressions, securing its place in common vernacular and stylistic imagery.
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Words that rhyme with "Leopard"
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