2 syllables: mor, tars. Stress on mor.
/ˈmɔɹtɚz/
Say it backMortars is the plural noun for a short, hollow-stemmed mortar used to launch explosive shells, or, in construction, a mixture of cement and aggregate. In modern usage it often refers to the artillery weapon as well as the material used in masonry. The pronunciation hinges on a clear /ɔː/ or /ɔr/ vowel in the first syllable and a voiceless /t/ in the middle, with plural /-ərz/ ending.
- You might mispronounce the first syllable by flattening /ɔː/ into /ɒ/ or misplacing lip rounding; keep a rounded, open back vowel. - The /t/ can be swallowed or flapped in casual speech; ensure a compact but audible release before the /ər/ or /ə/ depending on accent. - Final /z/ can be devoiced in rapid speech; aim for a voiced /z/ in careful speech to avoid a whole-syllable collapse into /s/.
"The soldiers fired several mortars during the night operation."
"In construction, the walls were held together with strong mortars and lime."
"The artillery unit trained to reload mortars as quickly as possible."
Pronounce it as /ˈmɔːrtərz/ in US and AU, with stress on the first syllable. The first vowel is a long, open-mid back vowel = /ɔː/ (as in 'more'), the second syllable begins with a voiceless /t/ followed by a schwa /ə/ and ends with the voiced /z/. UK typically renders /ˈmɔːtəz/ in some quick speech, but many speakers say /ˈmɔːrtəz/; the key is the stressed first syllable and a clear /t/ before a light /ə/ or /ɜː/ before z.
Two common errors: (1) treating the second syllable as /ər/ without the t sound, saying /ˈmɔːrzərz/ or /ˈmɔːrzəz/. Ensure the /t/ is released clearly before the schwa. (2) Slurring the /t/ into a /d/ or turning /ər/ into a longer /ɚ/; practice with a crisp /t/ followed by a short /ɚ/ or /ər/ depending on dialect. Practicing with minimal pairs helps: /ˈmɔːrtərz/ vs /ˈmɔːrərz/ highlights the essential /t/ and /ər/ timing.
US and AU commonly maintain /ˈmɔːrtərz/ with rhotic /r/ in both syllables; UK varies: some speakers reduce the /r/ to non-rhotic /ˈmɔːtəz/ in careful speech, while others keep /ˈmɔːtəz/ with a light /t/; Australia tends toward /ˈmɔːtəz/ or /ˈmɔːrtəz/, still using a clear /t/. The primary differences are rhoticity and vowel quality in /ɔː/ and the presence or absence of /r/ after the vowel, especially before a consonant and final z.
The challenge lies in the cluster /rt/ right before the schwa [ə], requiring precise release of /t/ plus rapid transition to a reduced vowel, which some speakers compress, producing /ˈmɔːrəz/ or /ˈmɔːtəz/. Additionally, the /z/ at the end can be devoiced in rapid speech, or the /r/ can be subtle in non-rhotic dialects. Ready mastery involves ensuring the /t/ is clearly enunciated and the schwa is brief and neutral.
A useful unique angle is the potential for vowel color shift in fast military shouts; you’ll often hear a shorter, tenser /ɔː/ due to rapid articulation, making the first syllable sound closer to /ɔː/ with a shorter vowel time before the /t/. Practicing with elongation vs shortening of the /ɔː/ in deliberate vs rapid speech helps anchor the correct rhythm across contexts.
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- US: rhotic /r/ after the vowel; keep the /ɔː/ rounded and sustained. - UK: more non-rhotic tendencies; /r/ may be silent; still emphasize /t/ release and a short /ə/ before z. - AU: similar to US with strong /ɹ/ in some regions; maintain a clear /t/ and a lightly reduced final vowel. Reference IPA: /ˈmɔːrtərz/ (US), /ˈmɔːtəz/ (UK), /ˈmɔːtəz/ (AU).
Mortars originates from Old French mortier, derived from Late Latin mortarium, meaning a crushed bit or a grinding bowl, which itself comes from Latin mordere “to bite.” The sense shifted from the vessel used for grinding (mortar and pestle) to the substance used for binding in masonry, then to the artillery weapon that uses explosive charge to launch munitions, reflecting the tool’s historical function of pounding, grinding, and driving. The plural form mortars developed in English to refer both to the tool used in construction and the army weapon. First attested forms appear in 14th–15th centuries in medieval Latin and Old French texts, with English adoption in Middle English reflective of its mechanical meaning. Over time, the term diversified into specialized domains: “mortar” as a kitchen grinding vessel; “mortar” as the mortar in masonry; and “mortar” as the weapon system, with pluralization carrying across contexts into modern military and construction jargon. The modern, dual-use meaning persists, linked by the shared notion of smashing and binding materials together or delivering explosive effects through a short-range launcher.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "mortars" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "mortars"
-rts sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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