Peg is a small, cylindrical fastener or peg-like projection used to secure or hang items. It can also refer to a peg-shaped mark or post. In idiomatic use, it may denote a fixed place or standard, such as a peg in a ladder or a peg on a clothesline. The word typically implies a simple, functional object or point of reference.
"She hung the towel on the peg near the door."
"The fisherman kept his net buoy and peg in separate compartments."
"They decided to peg the price at a modest level to attract buyers."
"He used a peg as a makeshift handle to pull the box open."
Peg comes from Middle English pegge, related to Old Norse peggr and Dutch haakje, all from Proto-Germanic *pagą, a small post or stake. The sense of a slender post or pin used to fasten objects developed in medieval Europe, with early mentions referring to wooden pegs used in doorways, furniture, and ships. The modern usage broadened to include small pegs used for hanging and securing, as well as metaphorical senses like “to peg” a price or target. The word’s root emphasizes a simple, functional object, with cognates across Germanic languages retaining the sense of a stake or pin. First known use in English appears in the late medieval period, aligning with the growth of carpentry and everyday fastening needs. Over time, peg maintained its concrete meaning while expanding into figurative uses in business and measurement contexts, always tied to the notion of a fixed point or anchor. Modern English retains the tactile, physical sense most clearly, while still carrying metaphorical implications in idiomatic phrases and industry jargon.
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Words that rhyme with "Peg"
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Peg is pronounced as /pɛɡ/. The initial plosive /p/ is released with a small burst of air, followed by the short vowel /ɛ/ as in “bed,” and a voiced velar stop /ɡ/ at the end. The stress is on the single syllable, so there’s no extra emphasis. Place your lips together to release /p/, keep the tongue relaxed for /ɛ/ with a lax jaw, and finish with a firm /ɡ/ closure. You can mirror this pronunciation by saying “peh-g” quickly and crisply. For reference, you can listen to native speakers on Pronounce or YouGlish to hear the exact timing and voicing.
Common errors include turning /p/ into a softer or aspirated sound without a clean release, substituting /æ/ from “cat” for /ɛ/, and slurring the final /g/ into something like /k/ or /d/? The fix: start with a clean aspirated /p/, hold /ɛ/ as in “bed” without tensing the jaw, and finish with a clear, audible /ɡ/. Practice producing the final stop with a short hold and slight voicing to avoid a flapped or devoiced ending. Slow practice helps solidify the sequence: /p/ + /ɛ/ + /ɡ/.
In US, UK, and AU, Peg keeps the same phonemic sequence /pɛɡ/, but vowel quality and r-coloring differ in connected speech. US and AU tend to have a purer /e/ as in “bed,” with /ɡ/ ending clearly released. In some UK varieties, you may hear a slightly raised or centralized /e/ depending on regional vowel shifts, and the non-rhotic speaker won’t alter /pɜɡ/ unless influenced by surrounding vowels. Overall, the vowel height and rhoticity don’t dramatically alter peg, but speed, flanking vowels, and intonation patterns can subtly shape perception. You’ll notice more vowel reduction in casual speech across all three, but the core /pɛɡ/ remains stable.
Peg challenges learners with three precise phonetic aspects: the crisp, aspirated onset /p/ without a prolonged release, the short, front vowel /ɛ/ which sits between /e/ and /ɪ/ in English, and the final voiced stop /ɡ/ which must be released with voicing rather than blended into the preceding vowel. Beginners often shorten /ɛ/ or devoice the final /ɡ/, creating /pɛk/ or /pɛk/ sounds. To master it, focus on a clean, subtle breath at the /p/ onset, maintain a relaxed jaw for /ɛ/, and finish with a solid, audible /ɡ/ with a brief voicing after the tongue contacts the soft palate.
A common peg nuance is the subtle delay before the /ɡ/ release in rapid speech, which can sound like /pɛɡ/ with a slightly longer vowel before the final stop in careful speech. The mouth temporarily holds the /ɛ/ longer before the /ɡ/ closure, producing a crisp, precise ending especially in careful articulation. In less formal dialogue, you may blend the /ɡ/ into a quick closure; aim to keep the final /ɡ/ audible, even when speaking quickly, to maintain clarity. IPA reference: /pɛɡ/.
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