US: /ˈplʌmɪt/ with a strong, quick final /t/ in careful speech; you may reduce the /ɪ/ slightly in rapid talk. UK: /ˈplʌmɪt/ with a crisp /t/, often more clipped; less vowel reduction in careful diction. AU: /ˈplʌmɪt/ similar to UK/US but with the characteristic Australian vowel qualities; slight vowel broadening can occur in some speakers. Key differences: vowel length and aspiration on the final stop, and the general speed of the second syllable. Use IPA as reference and practice minimal pairs to feel the subtle shifts.
"The climber watched the rope snap and felt her heart plummet as she tumbled toward the ground."
"Stocks began to plummet after the scandal was revealed."
"Ice melted and temperatures plummeted overnight in the region's cold snap."
"The lifeboat was released, and the rescue wait seemed to plummet the crew into fear and relief at once."
Plummet comes from the noun plummet, originally a lead weight used as a plumb line in carpentry and surveying to determine vertical alignment. The noun traces to the early modern English plumet or plummet, derived from Latin plumbum meaning lead. The metaphorical sense of steep downward movement emerged in the 17th–18th centuries as the weight (plumb) described by the tool suggested a straight downward fall. Over time, the verb sense broadened to describe any rapid downward drop, whether literal (objects accelerating toward the ground) or figurative (prices, temperatures, ratings). First known printed uses surface in technical and nautical writing, where plummet described metal weights used in measurement, with later usage expanding into general English to denote swift decline in various domains.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Plummet" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Plummet" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Plummet" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Plummet"
-met 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.
Plummet is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable: PLU-mit. IPA: US/UK/AU: /ˈplʌmɪt/. The vowel in the first syllable is the short lax 'uh' as in 'cup,' followed by a quick 'm' and a short 'it' in the second syllable. Your lips close gently for the /m/, and the final /ɪt/ is short and clipped. You can reference native pronunciation in audio dictionaries or YouGlish for usage in sentences.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (saying 'plumMET' with second-syllable emphasis) and lengthening the first vowel to an 'oo' as in 'plume.' Another error is turning the final /t/ into a release with an overt vowel, sounding like 'pluh-MET.' Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, use /ɪ/ in the second syllable, and end with a crisp /t/. Practice with slow tempo to lock the rhythm.
Across US, UK, and AU, the core /ˈplʌmɪt/ remains the same, with rhoticity not affecting the word since it doesn't end with an /r/. The main variation is vowel quality: Americans may have a slightly more lax /ɪ/ and a quicker /t/ release, while UK English tends to be slightly crisper with a clipped final /t/. Australian pronunciation aligns with UK patterns but can feature a softer diphthong in the first vowel. Overall, the rhyme and rhythm are consistent; the key is the first-stressed syllable.
The difficulty lies in the short, centralized /ʌ/ vowel in the first syllable and the rapid, light /t/ at the end. Some speakers aspirate the final /t/ too strongly or add a vowel after it, producing /ˈplʌmɪtə/. Others mis-stress as /ˈpluːmɪt/ or /ˈplɛmɪt/. Focus on a compact /ʌ/ and a clean, unreleased-ish /t/ with a brief closure, so the word lands quickly with the correct rhythm.
In rapid speech, you may connect the /m/ to the following consonant, producing a smoother transition like /ˈplʌm.mɪt/. Avoid adding an extra vowel before /t/ (avoid /ˈplʌmɪ.t/ with an extra syllable). Ensure the /ɪ/ in the second syllable stays short and not reduced, especially in careful speech. Practicing with sentences helps your mouth lock the right timing between syllables.
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