Period (noun) refers to a length or portion of time marked by start and end, a punctuation mark used to end sentences, or a geological era. It denotes a distinct interval with specific characteristics or boundaries. In everyday speech it often signals a pause or ending and can also identify eras in science or history.
- You may tense your jaw and mispronounce the middle syllable, turning /pɪr.i.əd/ into /pɔr.i.əd/ or /per.i.əd/. Relax jaw on the second syllable so /ɪ/ remains crisp rather than a dull vowel. - Final /əd/ often reduces; practice saying /əd/ clearly before dropping to /d/ in fast speech. - Avoid making the final segment too rounded; keep it short and crisp to avoid a trailing vowel.
- US: rhotic /ɹ/ is prominent; maintain the first two syllables with a clear /ɪ/ and a relaxed /ɹ/. Vowel quality: /pɪr/ with a quick /ɪ/; /i/ in the second syllable is shorter. - UK: less rhotic influence; /ˈpɪə.ɹɪd/ or /ˈpɪə.ɪd/ with a longer second vowel; keep non-rhotic authenticity; watch the /ɜː/ or /ɪə/ realization. - AU: often similar to US but with broader vowel sounds; avoid over-rolling the /ɹ/; ensure the final /əd/ or /ɪd/ is crisp. IPA references: US /ˈpɪr.i.əd/ UK /ˈpɪə.ɹɪd/ AU /ˈpɪə.ɹɪd/; practice with minimal pair contrasts to hear subtle distinctions. - General: master the first syllable stress and keep the middle vowel short; practice with slowed, then normal tempo, then fast tempo. - Note: in connected speech, final /d/ may be unreleased; you’ll still hear a sharp boundary before next word.
"The period of a concert lasts about two hours."
"Please put a period at the end of the sentence."
"Earth’s Jurassic period was known for its distinctive dinosaur fauna."
"She waited for a period of silence before speaking again."
The word period comes from the Middle English period, borrowed from the Old French periode, which itself derives from the Latin periodus, from Greek periodos meaning “a going around, a circuit; a way round.” The Greek periodos combines word parts peri- “around” and hodos “a way, journey,” referring originally to a circular or recurring course. In classical times, period designated a circuit or cycle, especially in astronomy and poetry. By the 14th–15th centuries, English used period to denote a distinct span of time or term, and later it broadened to include punctuation marks (early modern usage) and geologic epochs. In modern usage, period covers three broad senses: a time span (historical period), a punctuation symbol, and a geological or organizational era, reflecting its core sense of boundaries and cycles that mark beginnings and ends.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Period" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Period" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Period"
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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.
Pronounce as ˈpɪr.i.əd in US and UK; US often rhymes ‘pir’ with ‘fir’ and keeps a clear second syllable /-i-/, final /əd/ reduced to a soft /ɪd/ or schwa+d in fast speech. Stress on the first syllable: PĮR-ee-əd. If you have video, emulate the mouth movements you see for the /ɪ/ in the first syllable, and then lightly pronounce the final /d/ or optional /ɪd/ depending on emphasis.
Common errors: treating it as a two-syllable word with a long /o/ sound (period vs. 'poh-ree-ud'), or dropping the middle /ɪ/ entirely. Another error is turning the final /ər/ into a more American /ɝ/ heavy rhotic vowel; instead, keep /ɜr/ or /ə/ depending on acel. Correction: keep the middle /ɪ/ sound sharp, ensure the final glide is light, and maintain a clean /d/ at the end.
In US, the /ɪ/ in the first syllable is lax; rhodes /ˈpɪr.i.əd/. UK often uses a shorter /ɪ/ and may sound less rhotacized, with /ˈpɪə.ɹɪd/ or /ˈpɪə.ɪd/?; Australian tends to be closer to US but with a slightly flatter /ɪ/ and softer /ɹ/; all share the final /əd/ or /ɪd/ depending on pace. Focus on the center vowel quality in the first syllable and the non-rhotic tendency if applicable.
The difficulty lies in coordinating three syllables with a short, stressed first vowel and a reduced final syllable. The /ˈpɪr/ cluster requires crisp articulation to avoid blending into /pip/ or /pir/. The final /əd/ often reduces, so keeping it distinct as /əd/ or /ɪd/ requires careful tongue and jaw timing, especially in rapid speech.
Is the /ɹ/ letter in Period pronounced as the US /ɹ/ or a rolled variant? In many dialects, /ɹ/ is an alveolar approximant; you should lightly raise the tongue toward the alveolar ridge without touching it to create the smooth American /ɹ/ sound within the syllable transition, matching the mouth position shown in your tutorial.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Period"!
- Shadowing: listen to a native speaker say ‘Period’ in a sentence; imitate the rhythm and mouth movements, then record yourself and compare. - Minimal pairs: compare Period against a two-syllable false friend like ‘perido’ (for practice), or ‘periodic’ (different). - Rhythm practice: divide into 3 syllables; practice with a metronome: 60 BPM slow, 90 BPM medium, 120 BPM fast; ensure even timing across syllables. - Stress practice: practise placing primary stress on the first syllable; use sentences to reinforce. - Recording: use a voice recorder and playback; analyze mouth positioning and vowel length; aim for consistent /ɪ/ and crisp /d/. - Context sentences: “The period of time is finite.” “She paused for a moment; then the period began.” “In geology, the Permian period is notable.” - Shadow the final /d/ clearly; avoid adding extra vowel after it.
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