2 syllables: Mat, tock. Stress on Mat.
MAT-uhk
/ˈmætək/
Mattock is pronounced MAT-uhk (/ˈmætək/). It has two syllables (Mat-tock), with the stress on "Mat". Mattock is a sturdy pick-like hand tool with a broad blade at the end, used for digging and breaking hard ground. It combines a heavy head on a shaft, designed for prying and levering soil, clay, or roots. In modern usage it can refer to both a tool and, figuratively, a forceful instrument.
nounMattock is a sturdy pick-like hand tool with a broad blade at the end, used for digging and breaking hard ground. It combines a heavy head on a shaft, designed for prying and levering soil, clay, or roots. In modern usage it can refer to both a tool and, figuratively, a forceful instrument.
"The gardener swung the mattock to break up the stubborn clay in the far corner of the yard."
"Ancient farmers relied on a mattock to clear roots before planting."
"He wore leather gloves while using the mattock to avoid calluses."
Mattock is pronounced MAH-duk with the primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈmædək/ in US and UK English, and similarly in Australian speech. Slight vowel color can occur, but you should keep the first vowel short and crisp. Visualize saying 'man' without the 'n' for the first vowel, then a quick, light 'duck' without emphasis on the second syllable. If you’re recording, pause briefly after the first syllable to ensure the 'd' lands clearly.
Common errors include saying it as 'mat-TOCK' with a long 'o' or adding a final 'k' sound that bleeds into the second syllable. Some speakers overly emphasize the second syllable, producing 'MAD-dock' or 'MAT-tock' with an uncertain vowel. Correct by keeping the first syllable short /mæ/ and reducing the second vowel to a schwa /ə/; aim for /ˈmædək/ with a crisp /d/ and light /k/ at the end.
In US and UK English, Mattock retains /ˈmædərk/ with a short a and a reduced second syllable. US speakers may have a slightly flatter /ə/; UK speakers may offer a marginally crisper /d/ and more clipped final /k/. Australian English tends to be mid-centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and a more open overall vocalization, but the first syllable remains stressed. Across all three, the key is preserving a clean /d/ and a light /k/.
The challenge lies in maintaining a short, clipped first vowel /æ/ and the reduced second syllable /ə/ without adding extra vowel duration. The /d/ should be clearly a touchpoint between the two syllables, not blended with the following consonant. Some speakers also misplace the emphasis later in the word, so you should practice the exact two-syllable rhythm with a strong initial stress and a quick, light end.
The unique feature is keeping the /æ/ short and unrounded, followed by a reduced second syllable /ə/, producing /ˈmædək/. The mouth opens wide for /æ/, then relaxes into a mid-central vowel for /ə/. Avoid blending to /ædɑk/ or extending the second vowel into /ædɒk/. Focus on a distinct, abrupt switch from the first to the second syllable, with a crisp final /k/.
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Mattock derives from Middle English matok, with roots likely connected to the Old French matoche, and possibly related to the Germanic maghre or matka terms referring to a tool for digging. The word has Germanic parallels in several languages that describe a pick-like digging implement. In early usage, mattock described a hand tool with a heavy, broad blade used for breaking hard soil and stony ground. The evolution of the term tracks woodworking and agricultural lexicon where metal-edged tools were refined for farm labor and construction tasks. Over time, the form and materials varied, but the essential function remained: a heavy instrument for prying, chopping, and digging in tougher substrates. First known written attestations in Middle English appear in agricultural texts and estate inventories, asserting its ubiquity in rural work. Through centuries, the term persisted in dialects and regional vocabulary, maintaining its association with manual, rugged labor and field engineering.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Mattock" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Mattock" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Mattock"
-ket sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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