Nowruz is the Persian New Year celebrated at the vernal equinox, marking renewal and the start of spring. It is observed by millions in Iran and across Central and West Asia, often involving rituals, family gatherings, and festive foods. As a noun, it denotes both the holiday itself and the broader cultural period surrounding the equinox. The term combines Farsi roots with a historical tradition dating back thousands of years.
"We’ll celebrate Nowruz with haft-seen at the dinner table."
"The Nowruz parade brings together communities from several countries."
"During Nowruz, families clean their homes and wear new clothes."
"Many villages host fire rituals and poetry readings to honor Nowruz."
Nowruz comes from Middle Persian nau—‘new’ and ruz—‘day’, literally ‘new day’. The term is attested in Persian as Nowruz and in various regional spellings such as Norooz, Norooz, and Nowrooz, reflecting phonetic variation in Persian, Kurdish, Azerbaijani, and related languages. The holiday’s origins predate Zoroastrianism and are entwined with ancient Mesopotamian and Iranian agrarian calendars, marking the first day of the year and the new season. By medieval times, Nowruz had become a central Zoroastrian/Hanri cultural event in the Persian Empire, spreading with trade routes and migration. In the 20th century, modernization and national revival movements standardized forms like Nowruz in Iran and Norooz across the diaspora, while still preserving local pronunciations. First known written uses appear in classical Persian poetry and administrative texts from the early medieval period, with evidence of Nowruz being celebrated since at least the 1st millennium CE in various forms. The word traveled into neighboring languages with adapted pronunciations, influencing place names and cultural terms tied to springtime renewal. Today, Nowruz is both a linguistic and cultural signifier of spring, seasonal renewal, and shared heritage across multiple national and linguistic communities.
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Words that rhyme with "Nowruz"
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Nowruz is pronounced /ˈnaʊˌruz/ in US English, with primary stress on the first syllable and secondary on the second. The first syllable sounds like ‘now’ (rhymes with cow), and the second syllable is 'ruz' as in 'brewz' without a strong vowel in between. Mouth positioning: lips neutral to slightly rounded for the /aʊ/ diphthong, tongue high in the back for /ɹ/ transitioning to /uː/ or /u/ quality, and final /z/ is voiced. For British English, /ˈnɔːˌruːz/ may occur, with a longer /ɔː/ in the first vowel and a more rounded second vowel. Audio references: consult Pronounce or Forvo for speaker variations.
Common errors include replacing /naʊ/ with a simple /nɒ/ or /nɔː/ vowel, producing an awkward first vowel; misplacing stress, giving uneven emphasis on the second syllable; and softening the final /z/ into a /s/ or not voicing it clearly. Correction tips: practice the /aʊ/ diphthong clearly as in ‘now’, keep the second syllable /ruz/ with a clear voiced /z/. Ensure the /r/ is a standard rhotic American-style /ɹ/ tip-of-tongue, not an American retroflex. In UK usage, avoid turning /ruːz/ into /ruːz/ with a tense /u/; maintain the relaxed /u/ quality and crisp /z/.
In US English, /ˈnaʊˌruz/ with a rhotic /ɹ/ and a diphthong /aʊ/ in the first syllable; the second syllable uses a clear /uz/ ending. In UK English, you may hear /ˈnɔːruːz/ or /ˈnɔːˌruːz/, with a longer open vowel in the first syllable and a longer /uː/ in the second, and sometimes reduced rhoticity in some dialects. Australian English typically aligns with US patterns but can have a flatter /ɔː/ or /ɒ/ in the first vowel depending on the speaker; final /z/ is voiced. Listening to regional recordings helps identify subtle variations.
The difficulty arises from the two-syllable structure with a diphthong in the first syllable (/aʊ/) and a final voiced /z/ cluster that can bleed into an /s/ for non-native speakers. The /ɹ/ rhotic sound in many dialects can be challenging, especially for non-rhotic speakers. Contact between /aʊ/ and /ɹ/ requires a smooth glide. Additionally, the second syllable /ruz/ may emphasize the /z/ too heavily, causing a tense finish. Practice with slow, careful articulation to maintain distinct, crisp consonants.
Nowruz is a culturally loaded term with a specific Persian root, so many English learners seek guidance on whether to stress the first or second syllable and how to render /rz/ clusters accurately. The unique aspect is the combination of an English-like diphthong with a Semitic/Iranian consonant cluster, requiring careful voicing of /z/ and accurate /ɹ/ articulation. You’ll benefit from referencing authentic audio and maintaining a stable tongue position while transitioning from /aʊ/ to /ɹ/ plus /z/.
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