2 syllables: May, nard. Stress on May.
MAY-nurd
/ˈmeɪnɚd/
Maynard is pronounced MAY-nurd (/ˈmeɪnɚd/). It has two syllables (May-nard), with the stress on "May". Maynard is a masculine given name and surname, derived from Old Norman French traditions and later English usage. It functions as a proper noun and often denotes a personal name rather than a common noun. In speech, it is typically stressed on the first syllable, with a clear onset /m/ and rounded vowel in the middle, ending with /nd/ in most dialects.
nounMaynard is a masculine given name and surname, derived from Old Norman French traditions and later English usage. It functions as a proper noun and often denotes a personal name rather than a common noun. In speech, it is typically stressed on the first syllable, with a clear onset /m/ and rounded vowel in the middle, ending with /nd/ in most dialects.
How to Pronounce Maynard
"The candidate Maynard delivered a precise, thoughtful keynote."
"Maynard & Co. announced a new line of products this quarter."
"I spoke with Maynard yesterday about the project timeline."
Pronounce as /ˈmeɪnərd/ (US) or /ˈmeɪnəd/ (UK/AU). Start with a stressed /meɪ/ (the long A as in 'make'), then a schwa-like middle /nə/ or /nər/, and finish with a crisp /d/. Lip rounding is mild on /eɪ/ and the tongue glides from the high front position toward a nasal /n/ before the final alveolar /d/. An audio cue to check: you should hear a strong, clear first syllable and a softer second syllable that leads into the /d/.
Common errors: (1) Slurring the /eɪ/ into a quick /e/ or /i/; keep /eɪ/ as a steady diphthong. (2) Dropping the /r/ in non-rhotic varieties or misplacing it; in US speech you hear a light rhotic link before the final /d/, as /ˈmeɪnərd/. (3) Mispronouncing the final /d/ as a /t/ in fast speech; ensure the alveolar plosive is released with voicing. Practice by isolating /meɪ/ then adding /nə/ and a distinct /d/.
US English generally preserves /ˈmeɪnərd/ with a rhotacized or lightly rhotic coda before /d/. UK English may reduce to /ˈmeɪnəd/ with a shorter /ə/ in the second syllable and a lighter /d/. Australian often shows /ˈmeɪnəd/ with a slightly broader first vowel but similar final /d/. The main difference lies in rhoticity and the middle vowel quality, where US often has a more pronounced /ər/ sequence while UK/AU may shift toward a schwa and less rhotic coloring.
The challenge is the short, unstressed middle syllable after a strong /meɪ/ onset. The /n/ blends quickly into a final /ərd/ or /ərd/ cluster, making the transition from the vowel to the alveolar nasal and the voiceless/voiced final stop tricky for non-native speakers. Additionally, maintaining the crisp /d/ at the end without letting it sound like a /t/ or a silent consonant requires careful tongue-tip placement and voice onset timing.
A Maynard-specific nuance is the tendency to reduce the middle syllable in rapid speech, which can blur the /nə/ into a softer /nə/ or /nər/. To counter this, practice the sequence meɪ-nərd with clear, well-formed nucleus in the second syllable. Also be aware of regional rhoticity; US speakers often retain a light /r/ in the middle syllable, while UK/AU may suppress it, affecting overall rhythm and timing.
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US: rhotic and pronounced /ɹ/ in the middle; keep /ər/ as a vowel-consonant blend and ensure the /d/ is released. UK: often less rhotic in the middle, lean toward /ˈmeɪnəd/ with a shorter second syllable and lighter ending; AU: similar to UK but with slightly broader vowels and less dental articulation; ensure the second syllable remains unstressed with a soft /ə/ and crisp /d/.
Maynard derives from the Norman French personal name Mahier(n) or Maginard, Latinized forms of the Germanic name MN?). The name entered English via the Norman conquest, merging with Old English naming patterns. The earliest medieval occurrences appear in England in the 12th century through genealogies and charter records, where Maynard is attested as a given name and surname. The etymology traces to elements meaning strong, brave or mighty in old Germanic roots (such as maht, meaning strength, and hard-, meaning hardy). Over time, the spelling evolved in various regions into Maynard and Mannard, naturally settling into modern English usage. In contemporary times, Maynard is recognized both as a given name and a surname; its prestige and phonetic clarity contribute to its continued use in formal and literary contexts and as a recognizable surname across English-speaking countries.
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Words that rhyme with "Maynard"
-ard sounds
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