2 syllables: man, ner. Stress on man.
MAN-ur
/ˈmænɚ/
manner is pronounced MAN-ur (/ˈmænɚ/). It has two syllables (man-ner), with the stress on "man". Manner refers to a way of behaving or the style in which something is done. It can describe social conduct, method or fashion, and implies certain habitual patterns or approaches. In linguistics, it’s also used to discuss the manner of articulation in speech sounds. The term denotes the mode, method, or fashion of action rather than the content of the action itself.
Manner refers to a way of behaving or the style in which something is done. It can describe social conduct, method or fashion, and implies certain habitual patterns or approaches. In linguistics, it’s also used to discuss the manner of articulation in speech sounds. The term denotes the mode, method, or fashion of action rather than the content of the action itself.
- You’ll often hear the second syllable carry a full vowel: avoid turning /ə/ into /əː/ or /ɜː/. Keep it light and quick so you don’t create a two-syllable word /ˈmæ.nɜr/ in US or /ˈmænə/ in UK. - Don’t stress both syllables equally—manner is a weak second syllable word. Practice producing a staccato first syllable /mæ/ followed by a soft, short /ə/. - Don’t confuse with ‘manor’ or ‘mannered’ in context. Keep the stress on the first syllable and ensure the final /r/ is articulated only in rhotic dialects; in non-rhotic dialects, drop the rhoticity and end with /ə/.
"Her manner at the meeting was calm and respectful."
"The native manufacturer’s manner of writing is distinct from the English standard."
"She admired his courteous manner, which made everyone feel at ease."
/ˈmænər/ in General American; /ˈmænə/ in many British varieties. The primary stress is on the first syllable. Open jaw for /æ/ in the first syllable, then a quick, relaxed schwa or reduced vowel in the second syllable. The 'r' is rhotic in US English but often non-rhotic in some UK accents depending on dialect. Mouth position: lips neutral, tongue low for /æ/, then central vowel for /ə/ with a light, soft contact at the alveolar ridge. Audio reference: listen to native speakers saying ‘manner’ in context to hear the subtle vowel reduction.
Common mistakes include: 1) Over-enunciating the second syllable with a full vowel instead of a reduced vowel (expect /ˈmæn.ər/ vs /ˈmænə/). 2) Merging the two syllables too quickly, producing /ˈmæ.nɚ/ without a clear schwa. 3) Misplacing the /n/ and /r/—in some dialects the /ɹ/ is too strong or the /n/ blends into a postvocalic /ɹ/ in awkward ways. Correction: keep a light, quick schwa in the second syllable, gesture with the jaw to keep /ə/ relaxed, and produce the /n/ clearly before a short, relaxed /ər/ in GA or /ə/ in UK when non-rhotic. Practice with minimal pairs and tempo control.
In US English, /ˈmænər/ with rhotic /r/; the second syllable has a clear /ɚ/ or /ər/ depending on syllable-timed rhythm. In many UK dialects, you’ll hear /ˈmænə/ with a less rhotic r (non-rhotic), and the final vowel tends toward a schwa or a short /ə/. Australian English typically uses /ˈmæ.nə/ with non-rhotic tendencies but a flatter, more centralized vowel in the second syllable. Across these accents, the key differences lie in rhoticity and vowel quality of the second syllable: GA/US tends to a postalveolar /ɚ/ or /ər/, UK often /ə/, AU can be /ə/ or a light /ɐ/ depending on speaker. IPA references: US /ˈmænər/, UK /ˈmænə/, AU /ˈmæ nə/.
The difficulty often lies in the short, reduced second syllable after a stressed first syllable, which requires precise timing and tongue relaxation to avoid a full vowel sound. For many learners, stabilizing the /æ/ in the first syllable while quickly transitioning to a schwa-like /ə/ or /ɐ/ in the second is challenging, especially when speaking quickly. Additionally, mastering the rhotic /ɹ/ in US speech or the lack of rhoticity in some UK dialects can complicate accuracy. Practice with controlled pacing and minimal pairs to internalize the contrast.
Typically no in standard dialects: the second syllable is reduced to a schwa or a near-schwa. Some learners may hyper-articulate and pronounce it as 'ner' with a full vowel sound, sounding like /ˈmæn.nɜːr/ or /ˈmæn.ər/; this is non-standard in most contexts and can sound affected. To sound natural, keep the second syllable short and relaxed: /ˈmænər/ (US) or /ˈmænə/ (UK). Focus on a quick transition from /æ/ to a relaxed /ə/.
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- US: /ˈmænər/ with rhotic final /ɹ/. Your focus: clean /æ/ vowel and crisp but not over-articulated /ɹ/. - UK: /ˈmænə/ with non-rhoticity; ensure the final vowel is a full schwa-like /ə/ and the /r/ is not pronounced. - AU: /ˈmæ nə/ similar to UK but with a flatter vowel in the second syllable and weaker rhotics; practice a light, quick /ə/ and minimal postvocalic r. IPA references: US /ˈmænɚ/, UK /ˈmænə/, AU /ˈmæ nə/.
Manner comes from the Old French maniér, via Old French maniere meaning 'a way of doing something, method, fashion, or craftsmanship.' The root is manere or maniere from Latin manus ‘hand’ (indicating handwork or method). In Middle English, the term expanded from meaning a handcraft or craft method to describe the way in which something is done or conducted. By the 14th–15th centuries, manner captured social behavior and conduct as a kind of habitual or expected way of acting. The shift from tangible technique to social behavior reflects the broader semantic drift from 'method or handwork' to 'bearing, demeanor' and finally to the abstract sense of fashion or style in daily life. The term is thus historically tied to the idea of methodual action performed by the hand or by one’s conduct, gradually broadening to include social etiquette and presentation. Today, manner retains both the concrete sense of method and the more abstract sense of demeanor and style in various contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "manner" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "manner" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "manner"
-ner sounds
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