2 syllables: luke, warm. Stress on luke.
LOO-kwawrm
/ˈluː.kwɔɹm/
lukewarm is pronounced LOO-kwawrm (/ˈluː.kwɔɹm/). It has two syllables (luke-warm), with the stress on "luke". Lukewarm describes something only moderately warm, not hot or cold. It is often used figuratively to indicate tepid enthusiasm, interest, or response. The term combines the sense of temperature with half-heartedness, conveying a middling, unremarkable quality in a person or situation.
Lukewarm describes something only moderately warm, not hot or cold. It is often used figuratively to indicate tepid enthusiasm, interest, or response. The term combines the sense of temperature with half-heartedness, conveying a middling, unremarkable quality in a person or situation.
- Do not merge the /k/ directly into the /w/; ensure a distinct /k/ release before the /w/ glide. A common error is misplacing the /w/ so it sounds like /luːkwɔːm/ without the correct separation. - Overly flatten the /ɔː/ vowel, producing something closer to /ɔ/ or /oʊ/; aim for a full back rounded /ɔː/ with steady lip rounding. - Non-rhotic articulation in US-style speech can blur the final /r/ in /wɔrm/; in rhotic accents, keep the /ɹ/ quality clear before the final /m/.
"The coffee was lukewarm and tasted bland."
"Her lukewarm reaction suggested she wasn’t impressed by the proposal."
"The audience gave a lukewarm applause after the announcement."
Pronounce as /ˈluːkˌwɔːrm/ in General US usage, with stress on the first syllable. The first syllable
Common mistakes include merging the /l/ and /uː/ into a quick /luː/ without the following /k/ release, producing /ˈluːkwɔːm/ as a flat sequence, and misplacing the /r/ in American rhoticity. A correct form keeps a crisp /k/ release before the /w/ glide and maintains the /ɔː/ vowel before the final /m/. Practice by isolating each consonant cluster: /l/ + /uː/ + /k/ + /w/ + /ɔː/ + /m/.
US English pronounces the final /r/ as rhotic and the /ɔː/ as a rounded back vowel, often with a strong /r/ in all positions. UK/Australian accents tend to be non-rhotic, sometimes de-emphasizing the /r/ and slightly lowering the /ɔː/ vowel. Australian English may exhibit a wider tongue position for /ɔː/ and less pronounced /r/ in final syllables. Keep the /k/ release clear across accents.
The difficulty lies in the sequence of a stop consonant /k/ followed by a glide /w/ and the long back vowel /ɔː/ before the final /m/, which can blur in rapid speech. Additionally, the stressed first syllable /ˈluːk/ involves a tense, high-front vowel followed by a crisp /k/ closure. Maintaining distinct separations between /k/ and /w/ and proper lip rounding for /ɔː/ helps clarity.
The word features a two-morpheme compound with a non-syllabic transition between /k/ and /w/, plus a long mid-back vowel /ɔː/ before final /m/. The combination of a strong alveolar stop, a gliding /w/, and a long vowel requires precise timing and lip shaping to avoid blending into /lukwar(m)/. Focused practice on the /kw/ cluster and vowel duration yields the most improvement.
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- US: Maintain rhotic /ɹ/ in /wɔrm/; ensure the /r/ does not intrude on the preceding vowel. The /ɔː/ vowel tends to be more retracted, with a clear lip rounding for /ɔː/. - UK: Often non-rhotic; you may omit a strong /r/ but keep the /ɔː/ length. The /l/ influences the preceding vowel quality. - AU: Similar to UK with mild rhoticity; ensure the final /m/ is crisp and avoid vowel intrusion into the final consonant. IPA references: US /ˈluːkˌwɔːrm/, UK /ˈluːkˌwɔːm/, AU /ˈluːkˌwɔːm/.
Lukewarm derives from Middle English lukewarmen, from lukewarm, combining luk(e) ‘lukeh’ in the sense of lukewarm water with warm. The earliest sense was literal temperature: ‘somewhat warm, not hot,’ which then broadened to a figurative meaning of superficial or half-hearted in attitude or support. The form is attested in the 16th century in both literal and figurative usage; by the 17th–18th centuries, writers commonly used lukewarm to describe tepid reception, indifferent support, or lackluster effort. The word’s semantic drift mirrors other compounds where a physical property (temperature) becomes a metaphor for intensity of feeling or commitment. It has remained stable in both everyday and formal registers, often with a mildly negative connotation. The compound’s stability is aided by its simple two-morpheme structure and transparent meaning, which continues to be productive in modern English for both literal and figurative senses.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "lukewarm" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "lukewarm"
-erk sounds
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