2 syllables: Pas, sport. Stress on Pas.
PAS-pawrt
/ˈpæˌspɔɹt/
Passport is pronounced PAS-pawrt (/ˈpæˌspɔɹt/). It has two syllables (Pas-sport), with the stress on "Pas". Passport (noun) refers to an official government document that certifies a person’s identity and nationality, allowing international travel. It typically contains the holder’s name, photograph, and vital details, and is required for border control. Beyond travel, it can symbolize access, legitimacy, and passage between places or statuses.
nounPassport (noun) refers to an official government document that certifies a person’s identity and nationality, allowing international travel. It typically contains the holder’s name, photograph, and vital details, and is required for border control. Beyond travel, it can symbolize access, legitimacy, and passage between places or statuses.
"I hid my passport in a safe place before the trip."
"The airline checked my passport and visa at check-in."
"She waved her passport proudly after earning her citizenship."
US: /ˈpæsˌpɔrt/ with primary stress on PAS and a secondary stress on PORT; concise two-syllable rhythm. UK/AU: /ˈpɑːspɔːt/ with a longer first vowel and a steadier 'port' vowel. Mouth positions: start with a relaxed lips, front lax vowel /æ/ as in 'cat', then the /p/ aspirated stop, then /ɔː/ or /ɔ/ depending on accent, ending with /t/. For reference, you can listen to native speakers on Pronounce or Forvo and compare side-by-side with Cambridge/Oxford pronunciations.
Common errors: 1) Merging the two syllables into a quick /ˈpæsˌpɔət/ with a reduced /ɔ/; ensure the /ɔ/ in 'port' remains distinct. 2) Dropping the second syllable stress or flattening it into /ˈpæsport/; keep the secondary stress on the second syllable for natural rhythm. 3) Vowel quality confusion between /æ/ and /ɑː/ in UK/AU; rely on /æ/ in US, but in UK/AU adopt /ɑː/ for the first vowel in some dialects. Practice with minimal pairs to solidify the two-syllable separation and full vowel sounds.
US English tends toward /ˈpæsˌpɔrt/ with a shorter /æ/ and rhotic /r/. UK/AU show a longer /ɑː/ in the first syllable and a longer /ɔː/ in the second, with a non-rhotic or lightly rhotic approach in some UK varieties. In Australian speech, you’ll hear a broader /ɒ/ to /ɔː/ transition and less pronounced /r/ in some contexts, but often a light rhotic link in careful speech. IPA guides: US /ˈpæsˌpɔrt/, UK /ˈpɑːspɔːt/, AU /ˈpɑːspɔːt/.
The challenge lies in the two-syllable structure with a clipped first vowel /æ/ in US or a longer /ɑː/ in UK/AU, followed by a strong /p/ and a rounded /ɔː/ or /ɔ/ in 'port', plus the final /t/—all in close succession. The subtle vowel length difference and the clear separation between syllables require precise timing and mouth positioning to avoid blending into 'passport' or slurring the second syllable.
The word contains two plosive consonants /p/ in sequence, with an interposing/delayed onset to avoid flush pronunciation. The primary stress falls on the first syllable, but a secondary, lighter stress on the second syllable helps maintain natural rhythm in connected speech. The tricky part for learners is keeping the /æ/ or /ɑː/ quality distinct from the /ɔː/ vowel in 'port' while ensuring the final /t/ is released cleanly.
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Passport derives from the medieval term 'pass' meaning permission and 'port' from Latin portus meaning harbor or gate, combined to mean permission to pass. The concept evolved in medieval Europe when travelers required a safe-conduct document to cross borders or travel between towns for safety and trade. In English, 'passport' emerged by the 15th century, initially implying a permit to pass. Over time, the document formalized into a government-issued travel document with an official photo and biographical data, becoming a universal symbol of international mobility and legal entry rights. The modern passport system expanded in the 19th and 20th centuries with increased global travel and standardized identity verification. The word's usage has broadened metaphorically to denote authorization or eligibility in various domains beyond travel, such as access to exclusive areas or services.
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Help others use "Passport" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Passport" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Passport" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Passport"
-ort sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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