2 syllables: Quo, ta. Stress on Quo.
KWOH-tuh
/ˈkwoʊtə/
Quota is pronounced KWOH-tuh (/ˈkwoʊtə/). It has two syllables (Quo-ta), with the stress on "Quo". Quota is a noun meaning a fixed share or portion allotted or required, often by authority. It can refer to a numerical allowance or limit, such as a sales quota or yearly immigration quota. The term implies a set target that must be met or distributed among recipients, sometimes implying a restrictive or regulating boundary.
nounQuota is a noun meaning a fixed share or portion allotted or required, often by authority. It can refer to a numerical allowance or limit, such as a sales quota or yearly immigration quota. The term implies a set target that must be met or distributed among recipients, sometimes implying a restrictive or regulating boundary.
How to Pronounce Quota
"The company raised its quarterly sales quota to boost performance."
"Immigration quotas restrict the number of people who can enter the country each year."
"Each department has a monthly quota of tickets to sell."
Quota is pronounced as /ˈkwoʊ.tə/ in US English, with primary stress on the first syllable. In UK English, it’s /ˈkwəʊ.tə/ with a slightly reduced first vowel and a clearer second syllable. In Australian English, many speakers say /ˈkwaʊ.tə/ with a longer fall from /aʊ/ to /ə/. Listen for the 'kwo' onset and the light, unstressed final syllable. Audio references: standard dictionaries or pronunciation platforms can provide native speaker samples.
Common errors: 1) Making the first syllable too short, which weakens the /woʊ/ diphthong; aim for a clear glide from /w/ into /oʊ/. 2) Over-pronouncing the final /ə/ as a full syllable; let it be a shallow schwa. 3) Confusing /ɪ/ or /eɪ/ for the first vowel in some accents; keep it as /woʊ/ or /wəʊ/ depending on accent. Practice with minimal pairs and listen to native samples to correct vowel length and stress.
US tends to /ˈkwoʊ.tə/ with a prominent /oʊ/ and rhotic influence in connected speech; UK leans toward /ˈkwəʊ.tə/ with a more centralized first vowel in some speakers; AU often /ˈkwaʊ.tə/ with a broader /aʊ/ diphthong and less rhoticity. In fast speech, some speakers reduce /tə/ to /tə/ or /tɚ/ depending on accent, but the primary stress remains on the first syllable.
The difficulty lies in the diphthong in the first syllable and the light, unstressed final /ə/. The /kw/ onset must be released cleanly without adding extra vowel length, and the second syllable should be a quick, reduced /tə/ rather than a full syllable. For non-native speakers, matching the exact mouth position for /woʊ/ and maintaining correct energy through the word is key.
The primary stress falls on the first syllable, so the 'quo' carries the emphasis as /ˈkwoʊ/ (US) or /ˈkwəʊ/ (UK). The final 'ta' is unstressed and reduced to /tə/ or /tə/ in most varieties. Focus on making the first syllable prominent without elongating the final syllable.
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Quota derives from Latin quota, meaning portion or share, from the verb quantus, meaning how much. The term entered English via legal and administrative discourse in the 16th–17th centuries, initially in contexts of taxation, taxation quotas, and later in trade, immigration, and production planning. The sense broadened to denote any fixed proportion allotted to a person or group, or a prescribed limit. The word retained a formal, regulatory connotation, often used in bureaucratic or organizational settings. The pronunciation was stable in English usage, maintaining a clear second syllable stress pattern and a short o in the first syllable, with the ending -ta often reduced in casual speech. First known written use appears in legal or governmental documents addressing quotas or proportional shares, reflecting the governance-oriented origins of the term.
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Help others use "Quota" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Quota" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Quota" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Quota"
-ota sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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