3 syllables: Mo, no, cle. Stress on Mo.
MAH-nuh-kuhl
/ˈmɑnəkəl/
Monocle is pronounced MAH-nuh-kuhl (/ˈmɑnəkəl/). It has three syllables (Mo-no-cle), with the stress on "Mo". A monocle is a single round eyeglass worn over one eye, typically held in place by the outer eyelid muscles or a string. It conveys a vintage, gentlemanly aesthetic and often signals a distinctive, deliberate look. In usage, it refers to a singular optical lens designed for focused vision correction in one eye.
nounA monocle is a single round eyeglass worn over one eye, typically held in place by the outer eyelid muscles or a string. It conveys a vintage, gentlemanly aesthetic and often signals a distinctive, deliberate look. In usage, it refers to a singular optical lens designed for focused vision correction in one eye.
"He adjusted his monocle as he scanned the newspaper, checking the fine print."
"The painter wore a monocle to examine the minute details of the brushwork."
"During the period drama, the aristocrat tipped his monocle with a sardonic smile."
Pronounce as MON‑uh‑kl with primary stress on MON. IPA: US /ˈmɒn.ə.kəl/, UK /ˈmɒn.ə.kəl/. Start with /m/ followed by /ɒ/ (as in 'cot'), glide to /n/, then a schwa or light /ə/ in the second syllable, and finish with /kəl/. Keep the final syllable compact: /-kəl/. For an American audience, ensure the /ɒ/ resembles the British short o; in connected speech, the /ə/ is quick, not a full vowel. Audio reference: imagine hearing “monocular” but with a single eye emphasis; the rhythm is two light beats before the final consonant cluster.
Common errors: (1) Heavily stressing the second syllable as /ˈmɒn.əˈkəl/; fix by stressing only the first syllable: /ˈmɒn.ə.kəl/. (2) Overpronouncing the second vowel as /oʊ/ or /oʊə/ instead of a quick /ə/. (3) Slurring the final /kəl/ into /kəl/ with a hard onset; keep a light /k/ + schwa + l. Practice by isolating each segment: /mɒn/ + /ə/ + /kəl/, then speed up. Remember, monocle ends with a soft, clipped /əl/ rather than a full vowel.
US: /ˈmɑː.nə.kəl/ or /ˈmɒn.ə.kəl/ with non‑rhotic accents means the final /l/ may be lighter. UK: /ˈmɒn.ə.kəl/ with shorter /ɒ/ and crisper /kəl/. AU: similar to UK, but vowel quality shifts slightly; Australians may have a marginally more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and a slightly more nasal quality on /m/. In all, rhoticity is typically non‑rhotic in these varieties, so the R sound doesn’t appear; plasticity of /ɒ/ and /ə/ gives subtle regional flavor.
The difficulty centers on two things: the unstressed second syllable /ə/ and the final cluster /kəl/. English learners often reduce or omit the schwa, producing /ˈmɒn.kəl/ or add an extra vowel. Additionally, the /ɒ/ vowel in many dialects doesn’t exist in some languages, causing mispronunciation as /ɒn/ or /oʊ/. Practice cue: keep the middle /ə/ short and quick, and end with a compact /kəl/ — avoid overemphasizing the second vowel.
Unique tip: picture a tiny monocle resting on the bridge of your nose as you say MON.ə.kəl; the first syllable is clear and bold, the second is barely there, and the final /kəl/ lands with a gentle closure. Ensure your lips make a small, rounded /ɒ/ opening for the first vowel, then relax into a quick /ə/ for the second syllable, and finish with a crisp /k/ + light /əl/.
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Monocle comes from the combination of mono- ‘one’ and Greek -κλ (klo), no, actually the form is influenced by Greek klesis? The standard etymology: from French monocle, from Latin monos ‘one’ + Greek -kleíā? In English, monocle appears in the early 19th century, borrowed from French monocle meaning ‘a single eye’ lens. The word’s first appearances date to around the 1800s, aligning with a period when spectacle innovation was marketed to elites. The sense evolved from a literal single-lens eyeglass to a decorative, character-defining accessory. By the late 19th to early 20th century, monocle became iconic in literature and film as a symbol of distinguished eccentricity. The root mono- ‘one’ is from Greek monos; the suffix -cle suggests diminutive form in French loanwords, but monocle functionally denotes a single-lens eyepiece rather than a mere diminutive. The term has remained stable in meaning, though its cultural associations shift with fashion and media depictions of “gentlemanly” personas.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Monocle" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Monocle"
-nic sounds
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