Sage (noun) refers to a herb known for its savory aroma and culinary uses, or to a person recognized for wisdom and sound judgment. It can also describe something wise or prudent. In cuisine, it’s used fresh or dried; in character, it denotes discernment and knowledge. The word carries a formal, slightly scholarly connotation when describing wisdom.
"She added a sprig of sage to the roasting chicken for its earthy flavor."
"The sage old advisor offered prudent counsel to the young prince."
"Her sage advice helped the team navigate the complex project."
"In folklore, a sage is often portrayed as a calm, insightful mentor."
Sage comes from Old French salge, from Latin salvia, meaning ‘salvation’ or ‘healthful herb,’ which traces to the Latin salvus, meaning ‘safe, healthy.’ The herbal sense began in Latin as salvia and entered Old French and Middle English as salge/sage to denote the aromatic herb. The wisdom sense developed in English by the late medieval period, leveraging the traditional association of herbs with healing and wisdom, possibly through the metaphor of a seasoned elder as someone who “heals” or guides with knowledge. First known uses for the herb appear in medieval herbals around the 12th–14th centuries, while the metaphorical sense of a wise person becomes common in the Early Modern English period, aligning with broader Renaissance humanist themes of discernment and prudence. The dual semantic trajectory—herbal and wise—continues to coexist in modern usage, with context clearly signaling whether sage refers to a herb or a person of insight.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Sage" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Sage"
-age sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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You pronounce it as /seɪdʒ/. The vowel is a long A, like in 'cake' or 'rain,' followed by a voiced postalveolar affricate /dʒ/ as in 'judge.' The stress is on the single syllable. Tip: keep the mouth rounded a bit for the /eɪ/ diphthong, then release into /dʒ/.
Common mistakes: clipping the final /dʒ/ sound (saying /seɪ/ or /seɪt/), and pronouncing it with a hard /g/ as in 'sage-uh' or 'saj' without the /dʒ/. To correct: ensure you voice the /dʒ/ as a single affricate, with tip of the tongue near the alveolar ridge and a brief delay before releasing the air. Keep the vowel quality steady from /eɪ/ into the /dʒ/; don’t insert extra syllables.
In US, UK, and AU, /seɪdʒ/ remains broadly the same: a long /eɪ/ followed by /dʒ/. However, rhotic variation subtly affects surrounding sounds; in non-rhotic accents you may hear a slightly longer vowel before a soft /dʒ/. Australians typically keep the diphthong open and clear as /eɪ/, with a less pronounced rounding than some American varieties. Overall, the core is /seɪdʒ/ across accents.
The challenge is transitioning from the vowel /eɪ/ to the /dʒ/ sound without inserting an extra vowel or weakening the affricate. It’s easy to say /seɪ/ or to mispronounce /dʒ/ as /j/ or /ʒ/. Get comfortable with a crisp release: end the /eɪ/ and snap into /dʒ/ with a short, voiced closure. Practicing with minimal pairs like 'sad' vs 'sage' can help you feel the difference.
A distinctive facet is the rapid transition from the diphthong /eɪ/ to the affricate /dʒ/, which requires precise tongue positioning: the tongue tips touch the alveolar ridge briefly for the /d/ part, then the blade sweeps up for /ʒ-like dʒ/. Keeping the jaw relaxed and the lips slightly spread helps maintain a clear, smooth glide from vowel to consonant. IPA guidance: /seɪdʒ/.
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