2 syllables: mo, ther. Stress on mo.
MUHTH-ur
/ˈmʌðɚ/
mother is pronounced MUHTH-ur (/ˈmʌðɚ/). It has two syllables (mo-ther), with the stress on "mo". Mother is a noun meaning a female parent, typically the person who gives birth or nurtures a child. It can also be used affectionately to refer to a mother figure, and appears in many phrases and sayings. In everyday speech, it often carries emotional warmth or authority depending on context and tone.
nounMother is a noun meaning a female parent, typically the person who gives birth or nurtures a child. It can also be used affectionately to refer to a mother figure, and appears in many phrases and sayings. In everyday speech, it often carries emotional warmth or authority depending on context and tone.
- Mispronounce /ð/ as /d/ or /t/: This makes ‘mother’ sound like ‘mudder’ or ‘motter.’ Solution: place your tongue gently between your teeth and push air as you voice; keep the tongue steady, don’t bite.
"She told her mother about the school project."
"In many cultures, the mother plays a central role in family life."
"The mother cradled the newborn gently."
Pronounce it as /ˈmʌðər/ in US English and /ˈmʌdə/ in many UK contexts. The first syllable carries primary stress; the /ð/ is a voiced dental fricative produced with the tongue between the teeth, followed by a rhotacized or reduced final schwa /ə/ in many dialects. Tip: keep the jaw relaxed, touch the tongue to the upper teeth for /ð/, then let the vocalic /ər/ sound come smoothly. You’ll hear a clear but gentle dento-alveolar fricative followed by a soft, unstressed vowel.
Common errors include turning /ð/ into /d/ or /t/ (making it ‘modder’ or ‘motter’) and ending with a hard /r/ or a clipped /ə/ rather than a soft schwa. Another frequent pitfall is reducing the first syllable too much, yielding /məðər/ with weak stress. Correction: keep the /ð/ as a voiced dental fricative and maintain primary stress on the first syllable; let the final /ər/ sound be a light, unstressed schwa-ish vowel rather than a strong ‘er’ unless your dialect naturally rhymes with ‘cutter.’
In US English, /ˈmʌðər/ with a rhotic final /r/. In many UK varieties, it’s /ˈmʌdə/ or /ˈmʌðə/ with non-rhotic tendency, and the final vowel is a short, reduced schwa. Australian English often aligns with UK patterns but may have a slightly broader vowel in /ʌ/ and a less pronounced final /ə/. Across accents, the key differences are rhoticity, vowel quality of /ʌ/, and the treatment of the final vowel. Practice by listening to native samples in each variety to hear subtle shifts.
Two main challenges: the dental fricative /ð/ requires precise tongue placement between the teeth, which is unfamiliar to many learners, and the final reduced vowel /ə/ can blur into other sounds in connected speech. Additionally, maintaining primary stress on the first syllable while keeping a light, non-rhotic end in some dialects adds variability. Focused practice with minimal pairs and tongue-position drills, plus listening to native models, helps stabilize both the /ð/ and the final vowel.
The word sits at the intersection of dental fricative articulation and rhoticity in American speech, making it a good test case for mastering /ð/ and /ər/ sequences. Learners often confuse the mouth position at the start with /m/ or /b/, and may under-pronounce the /ð/ leading to a ‘mudder’ sound. Working on precise tongue placement for /ð/ and a relaxed, neutral form for /ər/ will yield authentic, natural-sounding results.
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- US: rhotic /ɹ/ in /ər/; clear /ð/ with strong dental constriction. - UK: often non-rhotic; final vowel reduced to /ə/; /ð/ remains dental fricative but softer. - AU: similar to UK, with mild rhotics in some speakers and slightly more centralized /ə/ in final vowel. IPA reminders: US /ˈmʌðər/; UK /ˈməðə/ or /ˈmʌdə/; AU /ˈmɒːðə/ (varies).
The word mother comes from Old English māder, which itself derives from Proto-Germanic *mōdēr, linked to the Proto-Indo-European root *méh₂ter- meaning ‘mother.’ The form māder appears in 9th–11th century Old English and evolved into modern spellings over time, influenced by Middle English and Early Modern English pronunciation shifts. The semantic core—‘a female parent’—remained stable, while usage broadened to include metaphorical and affectionate senses. Throughout history, the term carried strong social and familial connotations, and in many languages cognate terms reflect matrilineal connections. The first known written attestations appear in Old English texts; the word’s persistence across centuries highlights its central role in kinship, caregiving, and cultural identity.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "mother" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "mother" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "mother" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "mother"
-her sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
