Mandoline is a noun referring to a kitchen tool with adjustable blades for slicing vegetables, or to a slim, fretted musical instrument similar to a lute. It denotes precise, uniform slices in cooking or a class of stringed instruments used in folk and classical contexts. The term emphasizes fine, technical cutting or playing rather than broad, rustic preparation.
"She used the mandoline to achieve thin, even cucumber slices for the salad."
"The mandoline’s sharp blades require careful handling to avoid injuries."
"In the orchestra, the mandoline adds delicate, shimmering lines to the chordal texture."
"He practiced arpeggios on the mandoline, mastering a bright, staccato tone."
The word mandoline comes from French mandoline, ultimately from medieval Latin mandolina, diminutive of manus ‘hand’ + dolina ‘blade’ or ‘small knife.’ The French term originally referred to a knife tool for fine slicing and to a stringed instrument resembling a lute. The instrument mandoline emerged in Europe during the 17th–18th centuries, acquiring a role in courtly and folk music as a portable, bright-toned chordal instrument. The kitchen tool adopted the name because of its blade’s slicing action, evoking precision and delicacy similar to the instrument’s playing. First known use in English as mandoline in the 18th century reflected both senses, with the musical instrument popular in orchestras and salon ensembles, and the kitchen device appearing in domestic cookery contexts by the 19th century. Over time, the term narrowed in common usage to refer primarily to either the culinary slicer or the instrument, depending on region and context. The etymology reveals a shared French lineage tied to manual dexterity and crafted tone or cut, underscoring the word’s dual identity.
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Words that rhyme with "Mandoline"
-ine sounds
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Mandoline is pronounced /ˌmæn.dəˈliːn/ in US and UK English, with three syllables and primary stress on the third: man-də-LEEN. The initial /mæn/ uses a short-back lax vowel, the middle /də/ a schwa with a light, unstressed syllable, and the final /ˈliːn/ a long E sound. Mouth position: start with a relaxed jaw, lips neutral for /m/, quick /ən/ as a soft, reduced syllable, and end with a clear, tense /liːn/ with the tongue high in the front.”
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (trying maN-do-liNE instead of man-də-LEEN) and mispronouncing the final vowel as a short /ɪ/ or /ə/ rather than the long /iː/ in /ˈliːn/. Some speakers insert an extra syllable (man-do-li-ne) or blend /də/ into a weak /də/ leading to /ˈmæn.də.lɪn/. Correction: emphasize the final syllable with a clear /liːn/, keep the /də/ as a quick, reduced syllable, and avoid breaking it into four distinct beats.”
In US and UK, the pronunciation centers on /ˌmæn.dəˈliːn/ with stress on the last syllable and a long /iː/. Australian speakers typically mirror US/UK, but may reduce the /ə/ slightly more in rapid speech, producing /ˌmæ(n)əˈliːn/ with a less prominent second syllable. Rhoticity mainly affects the preceding vowels; however, the mandoline maintains its final long vowel in all three. IPA references align closely: US/UK /ˌmæn.dəˈliːn/, AU /ˌmæn.dəˈliːn/.
The difficulty lies in the three-syllable, stress-timed rhythm and the mid-position schwa in /də/ followed by a stretched /ˈliːn/. Non-native speakers may misplace the stress or mispronounce the final syllable as /-lɪn/ or /-liən/. Mastery requires a crisp, reduced middle syllable and a sustained high front vowel in the final syllable. Practice with IPA cues and slow speed to fix rhythm.”
Mandoline’s final /liːn/ is a tense high-front vowel sequence that can be flattened in rapid speech. The middle /d/ can be light and quick, so people often produce /ˌmæn.dəˈliːn/ with a softer /də/ or merge /ən/ into /n/. Keeping the schwa distinct while not over-emphasizing it helps maintain the intended rhythm and avoids a clipped final syllable.
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