Mahogany is a dense, reddish-brown wood valued for furniture and cabinetry. The term also denotes items made from this wood. It conveys luxury and classic craftsmanship, often associated with rich color and durability. The word's fluent pronunciation mirrors its refined, enduring material connotation.
US: rhotic; maintain /r/ absence here; focus on /əˈhɒɡəni/ with shorter 'ɒ'. UK: shorter /ɒ/ and a crisper /ɡ/; AU: longer /ɔː/ in the second syllable; all share primary stress on HO-.
"The antique desk was crafted from mahogany and polished to a high sheen."
"She chose mahogany for the kitchen cabinets to create a warm, traditional look."
"The ship’s railing was finished in deep mahogany, contrasting with brass fittings."
"They sourced rare mahogany from the rainforest to ensure authentic color and grain."
Mahogany derives from the name of the tree Swietenia mahagoni (formerly Swietenia mahagoni), a tropical American genus of tropical hardwood trees in the mahogany family Meliaceae. The word entered English in the 18th century via Spanish or Portuguese explorers, with Swietenia named after Dutch botanist Pieter de Mahogao? The term mahogany originally described the timber itself and later broadened to denote items made from it. The wood’s prized color, density, and workability led to its global use in fine furniture and shipbuilding. Over time, mahogany has become a generic label for a class of dark, dense hardwoods sourced from tropical tropics, while still preserving its association with luxury and durability. First known uses appear in 18th-century English texts, reflecting colonial trade and European furniture fashion.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Mahogany" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Mahogany"
-nt) sounds
-me) sounds
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You say mahogany as mə-HOG-uh-nee in US and UK, with primary stress on the second syllable: ma-HO-ga-ny, ending with a soft 'ee' as in 'knee'. IPA: US / məˈhɒɡəni/ or /məˈhæɡəni/ depending on speaker; UK /məˈhɒɡəni/; AU /məˈhɔːɡəni/. Focus on the second syllable’s strong stress and a clear 'ga' as a hard 'g'. Audio references: consult standard dictionaries or pronunciation sites for native speaker samples.
Common errors: 1) Dropping the second syllable stress or softening the 'g' (say MAG-uh-nee instead of hog-uh-nee). 2) Vowel muddling in the first syllable (mah as 'ma' vs 'mah' with reduced vowel). Correction: stress the second syllable with a crisp 'HO' and ensure the 'g' is a true hard /g/ as in 'go'. 3) Final 'ny' pronounced as 'nee' with a long 'ee'—keep the 'i' as a short /ɪ/ or /i/ depending on accent.
US: rhotics, a clear /ɡ/ and /ə/ in the first syllable; secondary stress on HO. UK: non-rhotic? Generally /məˈhɒɡəni/ with shorter 'ɒ' like 'cot'; AU: similar to UK but with broader vowels; /məˈhɔːɡəni/ with a longer /ɔː/. All share stress on the second syllable; the main variation lies in vowel quality in the first and second syllables and rhoticity differences.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic rhythm and the cluster /ɡən/ at the end, plus vowel quality shifts: the first syllable /mə/ can reduce, the second /ˈhɒɡ/ or /ˈhɔːɡ/ involves a short/long 'o' and a hard /ɡ/. Additionally, maintaining stress on the second syllable amidst rapid speech can be tricky.
No silent letters inside; the word is pronounced with three distinct syllables /mə-ˈhɒ-ɡə ni/; there is no silent consonant. The key is to articulate /h/ with a crisp onset and clear /ɡ/ linkage to the following /ə/.
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