Pottery is the craft or trade of making objects from clay, especially bowls, pots, and dishes, by shaping and firing them in a kiln. It refers both to the objects themselves and to the craft as a discipline, including wheel throwing, hand-building, glazing, and fired finishes. It can also denote the place where such wares are made or sold, as in a pottery studio or workshop.
"The pottery studio has a rack of bisque-fired bowls drying near the window."
"She collects antique pottery from different regions and eras."
"After hours of practice, his pottery began to resemble professional pieces."
"A local pottery workshop offers classes for beginners and experienced potters alike."
Pottery derives from the Middle English word poterie, which itself comes from Old French poterie, meaning ‘pot-making’ or ‘clay vessel,’ from pot ‘pot’ + -erie indicating a place or profession. The root pot originates from Latin potus, “drunk,” but in this context the pottery sense is tied to vessels made of clay rather than alcohol. The suffix -ery or -erie indicates a collective craft or shop associated with making or dealing in a particular material. The term appears in English texts by the 14th century, with early references to potters and their wares. Over the centuries, the craft evolved from simple hand-built forms to sophisticated wheel-thrown and glaze techniques, expanding into industrial production and modern studio practice. In contemporary usage, pottery often differentiates from ceramics by emphasizing the craft’s hands-on, wheel-based or hand-built processes and artisanal studio culture, even as mass-produced ceramic wares share the broader category. The word’s semantic scope has broadened to include both the craft and its products, as well as the place of making (a pottery).
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Pottery" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Pottery"
-rty sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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US: /ˈpɒtəri/; UK: /ˈpɒtəri/; AU: /ˈpɒtəri/. The first syllable is stressed: POT-ter-y, with short, rounded 'o' as in hot. The second syllable is a soft schwa in the middle position, and the final 'ry' is a light 'ee' sound, effectively /əri/. Mouth positions: start with rounded lips for the /ɒ/ or /ɒ/ vowel, then relax to /ə/ for the middle, ending with a light /ri/ cluster. Visualize a gentle, quick transition between /t/ and the unstressed /ə/ before the final /ri/.
Common errors: 1) Reducing the first syllable to an unstressed /pə/ or /pʊ/ instead of a clear /ˈpɒ/—keep the initial short, clipped o. 2) Slurring the /t/ into a dent in the middle sounds; keep a crisp /t/ before the schwa. 3) Ending with a strong /iː/ instead of /əri/; aim for a light schwa then /ri/. Correction tips: exaggerate the stress on the first syllable momentarily to feel the rhythm, practice a clean /t/ with a brief hold, and finish with a soft /əri/ rather than /iː/.
US and UK share the /ˈpɒtəri/ pattern, with a rhotic US accent sometimes producing a more pronounced r in connected speech; however, careful careful non-rhotic tendencies may reduce r in clauses. Australian English also uses a /ˈpɒtəri/ baseline, but can feature a more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and a lengthened or flattened vowel in fast speech. In all, the primary difference is vowel quality and rhotic articulation in rapid speech; the core syllable structure remains POT-ter-y.
The difficulty lies in the unstressed, reduced middle syllable and the final /əri/. English speakers often reduce /ˈpɒtəri/ to /ˈpoʊtəri/ or /ˈpɔːtəri/, and the /t/ can blend with the following schwa, producing a softer transition. The sequence /t/ + /ə/ + /ri/ requires precise timing; many learners insert extra vowels or compress syllables. Focus on the crisp /t/ and a quick, light /əri/ ending to maintain natural rhythm.
A key feature is the syllable-timed rhythm with a strong initial stress: POT-ter-y. The middle syllable is typical of English function words and tends to be reduced to a schwa, so you should avoid pronouncing a heavy second syllable. Keeping the final /ri/ light helps maintain clarity and natural speech, especially in rapid conversation; you’ll hear speakers glide from /t/ into /ə/ into /ri/ with a soft, quick transition.
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