KWAWR-tur
/ˈkwɔɹtɚ/
quarter is pronounced KWAWR-tur (/ˈkwɔɹtɚ/). Quarter is a two-syllable word meaning a fourth part of something or a coin; it can also refer to a period of three months or a room used for lodging. In pronunciation, the emphasis sits on the first syllable (QUART-er). The vowel in the first syllable is a mid-back lax or tense vowel depending on accent, and the final -er often reduces to a schwa in unstressed position. Overall, the word breathes a light, clipped cadence in careful speech.
Quarter is a two-syllable word meaning a fourth part of something or a coin; it can also refer to a period of three months or a room used for lodging. In pronunciation, the emphasis sits on the first syllable (QUART-er). The vowel in the first syllable is a mid-back lax or tense vowel depending on accent, and the final -er often reduces to a schwa in unstressed position. Overall, the word breathes a light, clipped cadence in careful speech.
"- I bought a quarter of the cake to share with friends."
"- The quarterly report covers the first three months of the year."
"- They rented a quiet quarter of the house for visiting scholars."
Phonetic guide: US: /ˈkwɔr.tər/; UK: /ˈkwɔː.tə/; AU: /ˈkwɒː.tə/. Stress is on the first syllable. Start with an open, rounded back vowel in the first syllable, then a rapidly released /r/ or a reduced /ə/ in the second, depending on accent. Keep the /t/ light and allow the second syllable to shorten in casual speech. You’ll often hear a subtle liaison or a light /t/ blending into a schwa on fluent speech.
Two common errors: (1) over-clarifying the second syllable with a full /ər/ in all accents; (2) mispronouncing the first vowel as a pure /ɒ/ in UK vs US; the fix is to maintain a mid-back /ɔː/ or /ɔr/ quality in US depending on dialect and to reduce the final syllable to /ə/ or /ər/ in rapid speech. Practice with minimal pairs: 'quarter' vs 'quart' and 'quarter' vs 'courter' to feel the right tongue position.
US English typically presents /ˈkwɔr.tər/ with a rhotic /r/ in the first syllable and a pronounced final schwa or /ər/. UK English tends to have /ˈkwɔː.tə/ with a lengthened first vowel and a non-rhotic or weak rhotic approach, ending with a clear /tə/. Australian English often features a more centralized or rounded /ɔː/ vowel and a non-rhotic tendency, with the final /t/ often softened toward a clean /tə/ or even a reduced vowel. Pay attention to rhoticity and vowel length.
Because it’s a two-syllable word with a consonant cluster and a rhotic or non-rhotic variation depending on accent. The first syllable centers on a rounded back vowel before /r/ in rhotic varieties, while some accents shorten or reduce the second syllable to a schwa, which can blur the boundary. The combination of tense vowel quality, subtle /t/ release, and post-vocalic /r/ or its absence makes it a common problem for learners.
The sustained tension of the /ɔː/ or /ɔr/ nucleus in the first syllable, followed by a rhotic or reduced second syllable, creates a distinct acoustic signature. The blend between /r/ or /ə/ in the second syllable depends on whether you’re in rhotic (US, parts of CA) or non-rhotic (UK, NZ, some AU) environments, making it a word learners often search for exact articulation cues.
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US: prominent rhotic /ɹ/ in QUAR-ter, clear second syllable with /ɚ/. UK: less rhotic, longer first vowel /ˈkwɔː.tə/. AU: similar to UK with slightly flatter vowel; final /tə/ or /təː/ depending on region. Vowel quality: first vowel tends toward open-mid back /ɔ/ in all; length varies with emphasis. IPA: US /ˈkwɔr.tɚ/, UK /ˈkwɔː.tə/, AU /ˈkwɒː.tə/.
Quarter derives from the Old French quart, from Latin quartus meaning fourth. The word entered English in the Middle Ages, initially denoting a fourth part or division, especially of land or a coin. The sense extended to denote a district or section of a city (as in a living quarter), a division of the year (quarter of a year), and finally a coin (the quarter dollar) in American usage. The root reflects the Latin quartus, which is related to words indicating four and division, and has retained core semantic links to partition, one-fourth, and a designated sector. Over centuries, semantic shifts introduced administrative, time-based, and currency senses, often reinforced by compounding with other elements (e.g., quartermaster, quarterstaff). The term has thus accumulated numerous specialized uses, but the unifying thread remains the notion of a defined portion or segment. The first known English attestation dates from the 12th century in contexts referring to a fourth part, with later developments into coinage in the 18th century in American English, where it became a standard denomination and a unit of time in business and calendar contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "quarter" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "quarter" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "quarter"
-ter sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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