2 syllables: Qua, sar. Stress on Qua.
KWAY-zahr
/ˈkweɪzɑɹ/
Quasar is pronounced KWAY-zahr (/ˈkweɪzɑɹ/). It has two syllables (Qua-sar), with the stress on "Qua". Quasar is a distant, extremely luminous active galactic nucleus powered by a supermassive black hole, emitting enormous energy across the electromagnetic spectrum. It is among the brightest objects observed in the universe, often outshining its host galaxy. The term combines 'quasi-stellar' originally describing its star-like appearance with 'source' of energy.
nounQuasar is a distant, extremely luminous active galactic nucleus powered by a supermassive black hole, emitting enormous energy across the electromagnetic spectrum. It is among the brightest objects observed in the universe, often outshining its host galaxy. The term combines 'quasi-stellar' originally describing its star-like appearance with 'source' of energy.
"The astronomer announced the discovery of a quasar at record-breaking distance."
"Spectroscopic analysis revealed broad emission lines typical of a quasar."
"Even with a telescope, the quasar’s light outshines its host galaxy by orders of magnitude."
Pronounce it as KWAY-zar (IPA US: /ˈkwa.zɑr/, UK: /ˈkwɒ.zɑː/, AU: /ˈkwa.zɐ/). Primary stress on the first syllable. Start with a strong /k/ release into the /w/ glide, then a clear /eɪ/ vowel in the second position, followed by a clear /z/ voice onset, and end with a relaxed /ar/ or /ɑː/ depending on accent. See audio reference in reputable dictionaries for guidance.
Common errors: (1) Mispronouncing the first syllable as quick 'kwa' without the long /eɪ/ diphthong, (2) voicing the /s/ too softly leading to /kwɒz/ instead of /ˈkwa.zar/, (3) flattening the final /ar/ into a pure /ɑː/ or /ɑr/. Correction tips: emphasize /eɪ/ as a distinct diphthong in the second syllable, ensure the /z/ is voiced with a clear alveolar contact, and finish with a tight but relaxed /ɹ/ or open /r/ depending on your accent.
US: /ˈkwa.zɑɹ/ with rhotic /ɹ/ ending and a pure /z/; UK: /ˈkwa.zɑː/ with non-rhotic ending and longer /ɑː/; AU: /ˈkwa.zɐ/ with a more centralized final vowel and a non- rhotic quality in careful speech. The /ɹ/ in US tends to be pronounced, while in many UK and AU variants the final consonant is less rhotic or realized as a syllabic vowel. Vocalic length and quality shift slightly by region.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /kw/ at the start, the stressed second syllable's diphthong /eɪ/ that can blur in fast speech, and the voiced /z/ before a final /ɹ/ or /ɐ/ sound that changes with accent. Additionally, the non-phonemic nature of certain regional vowel lengths can tempt listeners to mispronounce the final vowel. Attentive articulation of /kw/ + /eɪ/ + /z/ + /ar/ helps stabilize pronunciation.
A key feature is the /ˈkwa/. The initial /kw/ is a strong, rounded labio-velar blend followed by a clear /eɪ/ vowel, then a voiced alveolar fricative /z/ and a rhotic-like or open final vowel depending on accent. The critical detail is preserving the distinct /eɪ/ before the /z/, avoiding assimilation that would reduce it to a simple /a/ or /e/.
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Quasar is a blend of quasi-stellar and object, coined in the 1960s as astronomers observed compact, star-like appearances in radio sources that possessed non-stellar spectra. The term was first used to describe quasi-stellar radio sources; later, the broader category of quasi-stellar objects emerged, then shortened to quasar. The root quasi- comes from Latin quāsi meaning 'as if' and stellar from Latin stellaris 'of the stars.' The adoption of ‘quasar’ marks a shift from an observational nickname to a recognized class of astronomical objects. The evolution reflects advances in radio astronomy and spectroscopic analysis, which revealed that these compact sources were incredibly distant galaxies with active nuclei. First known use in print appeared in the early 1960s in astronomical journals, with rapid uptake as redshift measurements confirmed their cosmological distances and extreme luminosities.
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Words that rhyme with "Quasar"
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