2 syllables: Mi, ser. Stress on Mi.
MEYE-zur
/ˈmaɪzɚ/
Miser is pronounced MEYE-zur (/ˈmaɪzɚ/). It has two syllables (Mi-ser), with the stress on "Mi". As a noun, a noun describing a person who is extremely reluctant to spend money, often to the point of stinginess. The term can carry a mildly pejorative tone and is commonly used in everyday speech to criticize someone’s frugality or lack of generosity. It can also appear in literature and media to characterize a character with avaricious traits.
nounA noun describing a person who is extremely reluctant to spend money, often to the point of stinginess. The term can carry a mildly pejorative tone and is commonly used in everyday speech to criticize someone’s frugality or lack of generosity. It can also appear in literature and media to characterize a character with avaricious traits.
How to Pronounce Miser
"The old miser hid his coins behind the loose brick in the fireplace."
"Don't be such a miser; share a portion of your bonus with the team."
"The miser counted every penny, even when the bill was small."
Pronounce it as MAI-zər, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA US: /ˈmaɪzər/, UK/AU: /ˈmaɪzə/. Start with the diphthong /aɪ/ as in 'my', then /z/ in the middle, and end with a reduced schwa /ər/ in US, or /ə/ in UK/AU. Keep the lips relaxed for the /z/ and settle into a light, quick ending. Audio reference: try saying it in a smooth two-syllable unit: MAI-zə(r).
Two common errors are: (1) misplacing the stress on the second syllable, saying /məˈɪzər/ or /maɪˈzər/. This flattens the natural cadence. (2) Using a long vowel in the second syllable or pronouncing the final /r/ too strongly in non-rhotic accents. Correction: ensure primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈmaɪzər/; reduce the final /r/ in UK/AU to a non-rhotic schwa /ə/ in /ˈmaɪzə/ where appropriate.
US: /ˈmaɪzər/ with rhotic /r/; UK/AU: /ˈmaɪzə/ with non-rhotic ending in many speakers, where the final /r/ is not pronounced unless a following vowel is present. Vowel qualities: US often maintains a rounded, clearer /ɪər/ or /er/ nuance in some speakers in rapid speech; UK/AU tends to a shorter, more centralized ending /ə/. Overall, the first syllable is stressed in all, with subtle vowel shifts.
The difficulty often lies in the fast, clipped two-syllable rhythm and the short, unstressed final syllable. The target cluster /mz/ after the diphthong /aɪ/ requires precise tongue placement to avoid an unintended /z/ length or mispronounced /ər/. In non-rhotic accents, the final /r/ can disappear, confusing learners about the word’s cadence. Focusing on the transition from /aɪ/ to /z/ and then to /ər/ helps stabilize production.
The word features a clear initial diphthong /aɪ/ followed by a voiced alveolar fricative /z/ and a trailing rhotic or schwa. The stress is fixed on the first syllable, which is not always intuitive for learners whose languages place primary stress on later syllables. Additionally, the final /r/ can be skipped in non-rhotic varieties, altering the word’s perceived rhythm. Practicing with minimal pairs helps solidify the /maɪz/ onset before the ending /ər/ or /ə/.
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Miser comes from Middle English mesere, from Old French mesere, from Latin miser, meaning ‘unhappy, wretched, miserable.’ The root sense tied to miseria and miserabilis in Latin—related to misery and wretchedness—reflects the moral judgment attached to miserliness. The term evolved through Norman influence into Early Modern English, where it shifted focus from a general state of misery to a behavior: the act of hoarding wealth and refusing to spend. By the 16th to 17th centuries, writers used miser to describe persons who valued money above social bonds, often with moralizing undertones. Today, the word retains its original negative connotation, commonly applied in satire and critique of frugality taken to an extreme. Modern usage spans literature, journalism, and everyday conversation, occasionally softened in humorous contexts but typically signaling stinginess as a character flaw.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Miser" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Miser" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Miser"
-me) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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