/ɹɪˈmɑɹk/
Say it backRemark is a short spoken or written comment, typically noting or pointing out something notable. It can function as a noun for the comment itself or as a verb meaning to comment or mention. In essence, it signals recognition or evaluation of a person, event, or object, often conveying an opinion or observation.
- Common mispronunciations include flattening the second syllable to /ˈmærk/ or confusing the endings as /-mark/ versus /-mərk/ in rapid speech. - You might over-articulate the first syllable, making it /riˈmɑrk/ instead of the expected /rəˈmɑːrk/ or /riˈmɑːrk/. - Another issue is final consonant release; many learners fail to fully release the /k/ in casual speech, producing a clipped /rk/.
"- He made a thoughtful remark about the proposal during the meeting."
"- The teacher’s remark helped me understand where I went wrong."
"- Please remark on any inconsistencies you find in the report."
Pronounce it as /rɪˈmɑːrk/ in US/Canada, with primary stress on the second syllable. The first syllable is reduced to /rɪ/ or /ri/ depending on rate. The second syllable contains /mɑːrk/, ending with a hard /k/. In careful speech, you’ll articulate a clear /ɪ/ or /i/ in the first vowel, followed by the strong /ˈmɑːrk/ with lip rounding and a final hard /k/ release. Audio references: refer to Cambridge or Oxford audio dictionaries for native pronunciation samples.
Common mistakes include turning the second syllable into /riː/ or misplacing the stress as re-ˈmark or ri-ˈmark. Some learners drop the final /k/ or make it a /g/ sound. To correct: ensure the second syllable carries the primary stress /ˈmɑːrk/ and end with a crisp /k/ release; keep the first syllable brief: /rə/ or /ri/ depending on dialect, not a full /riː/. Practice with minimal pairs and mirror mouth position.
In US and Canada, /r/ is rhotic and the second syllable has /ɑːrk/ with a darker vowel; in many UK varieties, /ɹ/ at the start is pronounced but may have a shorter /ɜː/ or /ɪ/ in fast speech, and /ɑː/ can be less elongated. Australian English keeps rhoticity but vowels may be more centralized; the final /k/ remains unreleased in casual speech. Overall, the core stress pattern remains on /mɑːrk/; vowel quality shifts slightly with accent.
Two key challenges: securing the correct vowel quality in the first syllable and producing a crisp, unreleased or lightly released final /k/. Many learners assimilate the /ɚ/ or /ə/ before /m/ and flatten /ɑː/ into /æ/. The consonant cluster /rk/ requires precise back-of-mouth contact to avoid a post-alveolar or /ɹk/ blend. Practice with controlled syllables and detector audio cues to keep the /m/ and /ɑː/ distinct.
A unique query: Is the 'remark' second syllable ever pronounced as /ɪ/ in careful speech? Generally no; stressed syllable /ˈmɑːrk/ uses a broad /ɑː/ or /ɒ/ depending on dialect, but in rapid speech Americans may reduce to /ˈmærk/ with a shorter /ɑː/ and a quick /k/. The standard emphasis remains on the second syllable; the first syllable is reduced. Listen to native samples on Pronounce or YouGlish for subtle vowel timing.
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- US: rhotic /r/; clear /ɑː/ in stressed syllable; keep /m/ bound to the following vowel. Vowel quality tends toward /ə/ in the first syllable in quick speech. - UK: less rhoticity on some speakers; may have shorter /ɑː/ and less vowel height difference. - AU: similar to US but with slightly centralized vowels; ensure the /k/ is crisp in careful speech. IPA references: US /rɪˈmɑːk/, UK /rɪˈmɑːk/, AU /ɹɪˈmɑːk/.
Remark traces to the Old French commenter, from Late Latin commentarius (a notebook or commentary), from Latin commentarius (of a comment) + -arius. In English, remark appears in the 14th century as a noun meaning ‘a brief statement’ and later as a verb meaning ‘to say something about; to take notice or comment on.’ The root idea is to isolate a point or observation from a larger discourse. The word’s evolution mirrors its social function: a concise, evaluative or observational statement that marks attention or reaction. The form remark entered English via Anglo-Norman culture’s scholarly and bureaucratic practice of annotating texts, commentary, and marginalia. Through the centuries, it remained a versatile term in both formal and informal registers, growing from a simple note to a broader sense of noting or observing with commentary. The semantic range expanded to include not only verbal statements but also written notes, strokes of recognition (as in “make a remark”) and evaluative comments in conversation, journalism, academia, and everyday speech. First known use in Middle English aligns with the period’s emphasis on marginalia and scholarly commentaries, reflecting the human impulse to label, point out, and discuss aspects worth attention.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "remark" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "remark"
-ark sounds
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