2 syllables: Mo, lar. Stress on Mo.
MOH-luhr
/ˈmoʊləɹ/
Molar is pronounced MOH-luhr (/ˈmoʊləɹ/). It has two syllables (Mo-lar), with the stress on "Mo". Molar is a noun referring to a large tooth located at the back of the mouth, used for grinding food. It can also describe a premolar-tooth relationship in dentistry or anatomy contexts. The term is common in medical, dental, and anatomical discussions, and is pronounced with emphasis on the first syllable. Its usage spans clinical, educational, and general descriptive language.
nounMolar is a noun referring to a large tooth located at the back of the mouth, used for grinding food. It can also describe a premolar-tooth relationship in dentistry or anatomy contexts. The term is common in medical, dental, and anatomical discussions, and is pronounced with emphasis on the first syllable. Its usage spans clinical, educational, and general descriptive language.
How to Pronounce Molar
"The dentist explained that one molar needed a filling after the cavity was discovered in the back of the mouth."
"In mammals, the third molar is often referred to as the wisdom tooth."
"The patient reported grinding her molars at night, which can wear them down."
Pronounce as MOH-lər in US, MOH-luh in UK, and MOH-lah in AU, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈmoʊ.lɚ/, UK /ˈməʊ.lə/ (commonly /ˈməʊ.lər/ in some dialects), AU /ˈmoː.lə/. Start with a strong, prolonged /moʊ/ or /məʊ/ and finish with a lighter, schwa-like /ər/ or /ə/. If you’re rounding the lips for /oʊ/ in US, keep the second syllable relaxed.
Common errors include de-emphasizing the first syllable (MO-lar → mo-LAR), pronouncing /l/ as a dark blend in the second syllable (e.g., /lɚ/ vs /lə/), and replacing /ɚ/ with a clear /er/ in some dialects. Correction tips: keep primary stress on the first syllable, use a quick, relaxed /ɚ/ or /ə/ in the second syllable, and avoid over-articulating the final /r/ in non-rhotic accents by letting it be lightly implied or dropped in UK and some AU varieties.
US: /ˈmoʊ.lɚ/ with rhotic /r/ and a clear diphthong in the first syllable. UK: /ˈməʊ.lə/ or /ˈməʊ.lər/ with non-rhotic tendency; second syllable is schwa /ə/ and final /r/ is often silent. AU: often /ˈmoː.lə/ or /ˈmoː.lɔː/ depending on region, with longer /oː/ in the first syllable and a reduced second syllable. Key differences: rhoticity, vowel quality of the first syllable, and whether the final /r/ is pronounced.
Difficulty stems from the combination of a stressed open-mid vowel followed by a reduced, rhotic or non-rhotic final syllable. The /oʊ/ diphthong in American English requires precise lip rounding, while the second syllable often reduces to a schwa or /ə/ in non-rhotic varieties; learners may over-articulate the final /r/ or keep it too strong. Training focus: correct tongue height for /oʊ/ and mastering a relaxed, quick /l/ transition into a light, centralized /ɚ/ or /ə/.
A unique aspect is the contrast between the strong first syllable and the weak second syllable, especially in connected speech. The 'l' in the coda of the first syllable can influence tongue posture, and the second syllable’s vowel often devoices, making it feel almost unstressed in many dialects. Attention to the transition between /moʊ/ and /lər/ (or /lə/) helps the word sound natural across contexts.
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The word molar comes from the Latin molaris, from mola meaning “millstone, mill.” In Latin, molaris referred to a grinding tooth used to grind or crush food, aligning with the millstone metaphor. The medical/biological sense of a large grinding tooth emerged in Middle English and Latin-derived anatomical terminology as scholars and dentists cataloged teeth by function: incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. The 17th–18th centuries saw standardized dental nomenclature in European medical texts, and the term carried into modern English with the same core meaning of a back-of-mouth grinding tooth. The word’s semantic evolution mirrors a broader shift from everyday grinding imagery to precise anatomical labeling, while retaining the tactile, functional sense of “grinding surface.” First known uses in English dental literature appear in the 1500s–1600s as translations of Latin anatomical texts, reinforcing its status as a technical term that also appears in general English when describing teeth in both clinical and colloquial contexts.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Molar" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Molar" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Molar"
-lar sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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