Manoah is a proper noun, most notably a male biblical figure from the Book of Judges. It is pronounced with three syllables and a secondary stress, typically rendered as man-uh-OH-uh in English. The name carries a formal, ceremonial quality and is most often encountered in religious or scholarly contexts rather than everyday conversation.
"The professor lectured on Manoah, the father of Samson, highlighting his role in the narrative."
"In some Bible study groups, Manoah is discussed as a foil to his son’s extraordinary feats."
"The commentator noted Manoah’s humble offerings and devotion in the Judges narrative."
"A theological choir sang a hymn that references Manoah and the divine message he received."
Manoah is a proper noun of Hebrew origin. It appears in the Hebrew Bible as מאנוא (Mano’ah) and is most closely associated with the father of Samson. The root elements are often linked to words meaning 'to rest' or 'to endure' in later academic discussions, though the exact significations in Biblical Hebrew are debated. The name appears in the Masoretic Text and has been transmitted through Greek (I) and Latin translations, where it is typically rendered Manoah or Manoeah, preserving the three-syllable rhythm. The first known English appearance dates to early translations of the Hebrew Bible, with popularity rising in Judeo-Christian scholarship during the Early Modern period as biblical names became common in literature and theology. Over centuries, Manoah has carried connotations of piety, parental fidelity, and obedience to divine instruction, often invoked when discussing patriarchal themes within the Samson narrative. In modern usage, Manoah remains primarily a religious or literary reference rather than a common given name, but it has occasional adoption in theological studies and historical novels to evoke ancient Israelite life. The phonetic rendering in English typically stabilizes as /ˌmænəˈoʊə/ or /ˌmænəˈɑː/ depending on dialect, with the final syllable often reduced or altered in rapid speech. The name’s endurance in English-language Bible studies reflects its rich historical and literary associations rather than contemporary everyday use.
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Words that rhyme with "Manoah"
-boa sounds
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Pronounce as /mænəˈoʊə/ (man-uh-OH-uh). Start with /m/ and short /æ/ in the first syllable, then a schwa /ə/ in the second, and a stressed /ˈoʊ/ in the third, with a light final schwa. Think: man-uh-OH-uh. Visualize starting with a relaxed jaw, then lift the tongue to form the long vowel /oʊ/ in the stressed syllable. If you’re unsure, repeat slowly: man-uh-OH-uh, then blend smoothly.
Common errors include misplacing stress on the first syllable (man-uh-OH-uh becomes MAN-uh-oh-uh) and misrendering the final schwa as a full vowel or silent vowel. Another pitfall is turning /æ/ into a broader /æː/ or an /e/ sound, making it sound like ‘Mano-oh-uh’ or ‘Man-oh-ah.’ Correction: keep the primary stress on the third syllable, maintain a clear /æ/ in the first, a neutral /ə/ before the final /oʊ/, and ensure the final /ə/ is light and quick.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˌmænəˈoʊə/ with a pronounced /oʊ/ and a rhotic /r/ not present. UK speakers often reduce to /ˌmænəˈəʊə/ with a more clipped ending; Australian tends toward /ˌmænəˈəʊə/ with non-rhotic tendencies and a slightly flatter /ɔː/ quality on stressed vowels. The key differences are rhoticity and vowel height: US keeps a strong /oʊ/; UK/AU may exhibit a more centralized or diphthongal realization in the final syllable.
It's challenging because of the three-syllable rhythm with an unusual final weak syllable and a stressed mid-to-end vowel cluster. The middle schwa /ə/ can be subtle, leading to misheard as man-OH-uh or man-uh-oh; the final /ə/ is light and quick, easy to swallow in casual speech. Practicing by isolating the /æ/ and /oʊ/ sounds and keeping the final /ə/ light helps you stabilize the cadence and reduce misplacement.
No, Manoah has no silent letters in standard English rendering. Each syllable is voiced: /m/ onset, /æ/ vowel, /n/ consonant, then /ə/ (schwa), then the /oʊ/ diphthong, and a final /ə/ weak vowel. The challenge isn’t silence but timing: placing the secondary stress correctly on the /ˈoʊ/ nucleus and ensuring the final /ə/ remains light and unstressed.
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