rig-AHRD
/ɹɪˈɡɑɹd/
regard is pronounced rig-AHRD (/ɹɪˈɡɑɹd/). Regard is a verb meaning to consider or think about someone or something, often with attention or respect, and a noun referring to consideration, respect, or attention. It can also denote a particular reference or relation, as in “with regard to.” The term conveys assessment, attention, or esteem, and its pronunciation emphasizes a short, sharp initial syllable followed by a lighter second syllable. Context determines whether it acts as a verb, noun, or prepositional phrase.
Regard is a verb meaning to consider or think about someone or something, often with attention or respect, and a noun referring to consideration, respect, or attention. It can also denote a particular reference or relation, as in “with regard to.” The term conveys assessment, attention, or esteem, and its pronunciation emphasizes a short, sharp initial syllable followed by a lighter second syllable. Context determines whether it acts as a verb, noun, or prepositional phrase.
- • You might slip into REG-ard with a clipped first syllable. Drill: say re-GARD slowly, then accelerate while maintaining the second-syllable vowel length. - • The /ɑː/ could become /æ/ or a shorter vowel. Tip: hold the long /ɑː/ as in 'father', keep jaw lowered and throat open. - • The final /rd/ can blur. Practice with a deliberate release: /ɹɪˈɡɑːd/ and then immediately a crisp /d/ without voicing the vowel afterward. - • In fast speech you may swallow the /ɡ/ or reduce the second syllable. Practice with controlled pace, then add speed. - • Non-native speakers sometimes mispronounce /ɹ/ in US to a tapped or approximated sound. Ensure you produce a clear post-alveolar rhotic.
"She regards him with suspicion after the incident."
"The company has high regard for its long-time employees."
"With regard to your proposal, we need more data before deciding."
Pronounce as /rɪˈɡɑːrd/ in US, /rɪˈɡɑːd/ in UK, and /ɹɪˈɡɑːd/ in Australian English. The main stress falls on the second syllable: re-GARD. Start with a short /r/ then a schwa-ish vowel 'ri-' followed by a long /ɑː/ as in 'car', ending with /rd/. In quick speech, the final -rd can be devoiced to /d/.
Common mistakes: 1) Stress on the first syllable (REG-ard) instead of the usual second-syllable stress in the verb form; 2) Rendering /ɡɑː/ as a short /æ/ or /ə/ in some accents; 3) Final /rd/ sometimes pronounced as a simple /r/ or /d/ in non-rhotic accents. Correction: maintain /ɡɑːr/ with the -rd clearly articulated, and ensure the vowel length in /ɑː/ is maintained. Practice by saying ‘re-GARD’ with a crisp /d/ at the end.
US: /rəˈɡɑɹd/ with rhotic /ɹ/ and a slightly reduced first syllable; UK: /rɪˈɡɑːd/ with non-rhotic or weakly rhotic brogue and longer /ɑː/; AU: /ɹɪˈɡɑːd/ similar to US but with Australian vowel qualities and non-rhotic tendencies in some speakers. The stress remains on the second syllable; the final /d/ is usually pronounced clearly in all, but some speakers voice the final consonant more softly in rapid speech.
The difficulty lies in the combination of a stressed second syllable and the /ɡɑːr/ cluster, where the /ɡ/ transitions into a broad /ɑː/ before the rhotic or final /d/. It demands precise tongue position, avoiding a reduced vowel in the second syllable, and crisp final /rd/ articulation. For learners, focus on the long /ɑː/ and the clear release into /r/ (or /d/) without gasping or smoothing the consonants.
An unusual but helpful aspect is ensuring the /ɡ/ cleanly connects to the long /ɑː/ before the final /d/. In some accents the /r/ may be lightly pronounced or nearly silent in non-rhotic accents, but in others you'll hear a slight rhotic touch before the vowel or after it depending on the speaker. Focus on the clear onset /r-/ and the peak of /ɡɑː/ before the /d/.
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- US: Rhotic /ɹ/; allow a slightly schwa-like initial syllable and a strong second syllable /ˈɡɑɹd/ with a clear /ɹ/ before the final /d/. - UK: Often less rhotic in some dialects; /r/ can be weaker, so you’ll hear /ɪˈɡɑːd/ or /rɪˈɡɑːd/ depending on speaker. Vowel /ɑː/ is lengthened; the ending /d/ remains crisp. - AU: Similar to US but with vowel qualities closer to /æ/ in some regions; non-rhotic tendencies can soften the /r/ in some speakers. Maintain the /ɡ/ release and ensure a clear /d/ at the end. - IPA references: US /rəˈɡɑɹd/, UK /rɪˈɡɑːd/, AU /ɹɪˈɡɑːd/. - General tips: keep the tongue at the back for /ɡ/, avoid lip rounding that softens /ɡɒ/. For non-rhotic accents, ensure you still voice the final /d/ clearly.
Regard comes from the Old French regard, from regarder, meaning to look at, consider, or look after. The English form was borrowed during the Middle English period, retaining senses of looking at and esteeming. The root appears in Latin as reg- (to rule, to guide) through related senses of directing attention, though in English regard is primarily tied to looking and thinking: to regard something is to give it consideration or reference. Over time the word expanded from literal looking to more figurative senses like evaluating or respecting, as in “regard for safety” or “as regards your proposal.” The noun sense (“attention paid to someone or something; esteem”) developed alongside the verb. The first known uses appear in medieval texts where authorities might “regard” a matter or person with attention, and gradually distinct phrases like “in regard to” became common, used to reference a topic or aspect. Today, regard remains a versatile word spanning literal looking, evaluation, and respectful attention, with etymology reflecting a trajectory from visual attention to cognitive and social evaluation.
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Words that rhyme with "regard"
-ard sounds
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