2 syllables: Pot, hole. Stress on Pot.
PAHT-hohl
/ˈpɑˌthoʊl/
Pothole is pronounced PAHT-hohl (/ˈpɑˌthoʊl/). It has two syllables (Pot-hole), with the stress on "Pot". Pothole is a noun referring to a hole or hollow in a road surface caused by wear or weathering. It typically forms when water seeps into cracks, freezes, and expands, breaking the pavement. The term is often used in discussing road maintenance or driving conditions. It evokes sudden, jarring impacts for drivers and can signal infrastructure issues in a community.
nounPothole is a noun referring to a hole or hollow in a road surface caused by wear or weathering. It typically forms when water seeps into cracks, freezes, and expands, breaking the pavement. The term is often used in discussing road maintenance or driving conditions. It evokes sudden, jarring impacts for drivers and can signal infrastructure issues in a community.
How to Pronounce Pothole
"The city filled several potholes on Main Street after the winter thaw."
"Be careful driving over that pothole—the suspension will take a hit."
"Cyclists frequently warn about hidden potholes on rural lanes."
Pronounce as POHT-hohl. IPA US: /ˈpɒθˌhoʊl/; UK: /ˈpɒθˌhəʊl/; AU: /ˈpɒθˌhəʊl/. The stress is on the first syllable: POHT. The second syllable rhymes with ‘hole.’ Ensure the /θ/ is the voiceless dental fricative, produced with the tongue between the teeth. Start with a short /ɒ/ in US, then glide into /hoʊl/ with a rounded, long vowel. You’ll want a crisp stop before the /θ/ and then a smooth, long /hoʊl/.” ,
Two frequent errors: (1) substituting /θ/ with /s/ or /f/, which softens the dental fricative; (2) misplacing stress or mispronouncing the /əʊ/ or /hoʊ/ as a short vowel. Correction tips: practice the /θ/ by placing the tongue at the upper teeth edge and blowing air, not a voiced sound; for the second syllable, exaggerate the /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ with a longer, rounded vowel before the final /l/. Finally, keep /p/ aspirated and avoid a rushed transition between syllables.” ,
In US English you’ll hear /ˈpɒθˌhoʊl/ with a broad /ɒ/ in the first syllable and a clear /hoʊl/; in many UK dialects the second syllable uses /həʊl/ with a more centralized or reduced vowel in unstressed positions, while the /θ/ remains the same. Australian English tends to maintain the /ɒ/ and /əʊ/ closely, but you may notice a slightly flatter or more centralized /əʊ/ depending on the speaker. Overall, the rhoticity is not present in standard British and Australian accents for this word, unlike certain US regional rhotics. IPA references align with standard varieties: US /ˈpɒθˌhoʊl/, UK /ˈpɒθˌhəʊl/, AU /ˈpɒθˌhəʊl/.
The difficulty centers on the /θ/ dental fricative and the diphthong in the second syllable /hoʊl/ or /həʊl/. Many learners have trouble placing the tongue correctly for /θ/ and producing a clean, unvoiced fricative. Additionally, the transition between the voiceless /θ/ and the rounded, long /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ can be abrupt for non-native speakers. Practicing the precise tongue position at the upper teeth and a controlled lip rounding for the second vowel helps stabilize the production and reduces blending errors.” ,
A unique aspect is the clear separation between the two syllables, with a strong plosive onset on the first syllable and a precise dental fricative /θ/ that sits between the teeth. This makes the word relatively disyllabic and precise, requiring a short, crisp /p/ followed by the voiceless /θ/ before the rounded long vowel in the second syllable. Focusing on articulatory separation—stop-release for /p/, then dental fricative /θ/—will help keep both segments distinct.
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The term pothole dates from the late 19th to early 20th century, originally in American English. It combines poth- from older forms of poth-er, a likely alteration of potliness related to perforation, with -hole, meaning a hollow or cavity. The first element does not derive directly from a single old word; rather, it reflects a descriptive, almost colloquial coinage used by road crews and residents to describe a hole that forms in a road due to weathering and traffic. Over time, pothole became the standard term in civil engineering and public discourse to indicate a pothole that penetrates the pavement, rather than a drainage hole or utility aperture. In modern usage, potholes are central in discussions about road safety, winter maintenance, and municipal infrastructure budgeting. The word entered popular media around the early 20th century as automobiles became prevalent, solidifying pothole as a common noun in urban and suburban vocabulary.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Pothole" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Pothole" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Pothole"
-ole sounds
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