One syllable: Scald.
skawld
/skɔld/
Scald is pronounced skawld (/skɔld/). It has one syllable (Scald), with the stress on "Scald". Scald (noun) refers to a temperature hot enough to cause burns, typically just below boiling, or the act of immersing something in hot liquid. In everyday use it can denote a burn from hot liquid or the liquid itself at high temperature. The term is common in cooking and medical contexts and implies careful handling of dangerously hot liquids.
nounScald (noun) refers to a temperature hot enough to cause burns, typically just below boiling, or the act of immersing something in hot liquid. In everyday use it can denote a burn from hot liquid or the liquid itself at high temperature. The term is common in cooking and medical contexts and implies careful handling of dangerously hot liquids.
How to Pronounce Scald
"Be careful—the steam from that kettle can scald your skin."
"The baker poured scalding syrup onto the dough as part of the glazing process."
"She sustained a scald when the hot water tipped over."
Pronounce as /skɔld/ (US) or /skɔːld/ (UK/AU). Start with an initial /sk/ cluster, then a short to long open-mid back rounded vowel depending on dialect, ending with /ld/. The stress is on the syllable as it’s a monosyllable word. Tip: avoid adding a /eɪ/ or extra vowel; keep it tight and direct from the consonant blend to the final /ld/.
Common errors include inserting a vowel after the /k/ like /skæld/ or adding an intrusive vowel before the /l/, resulting in /skaɫd/ or /skɒl.d/. Another frequent issue is weakening the /ld/ to /l/ or /d/ becoming barely audible. To correct: keep a sharp /l/ and /d/ release, avoid extra vowels, and practice with words like cold or bold to calibrate the final consonant clarity.
In US English, /skɔld/ with a short, rounded back vowel. UK/AU tend toward /skɔːld/ with a longer vowel quality in non-rhotic regions; US rhoticity does not affect this word much because it’s not vowel-counting, but some speakers reveal a slightly longer vowel before /ld/ in careful speech. Overall, the initial cluster and final /ld/ remain stable; vowel length and quality shift subtly with accent.
The challenge lies in the tight /sk/ onset and the exact, crisp release into /ld/. Speakers often add an unnecessary vowel after /k/ or fail to fully release the /d/. The short to long vowel contrast between American /ɔ/ and British /ɔː/ can also cause hesitation. Focusing on a clean, immediate transition from /sk/ to /ɔ/ and then a precise /ld/ release helps. Use minimal pairs like cold, gold to feel the closeness of sounds.
Does the word scald ever have a silent letter? No. The letters s-c-a-l-d are all phonetic in standard pronunciation: /skɔld/ in US; ensure the /sk/ cluster is crisp and the /ld/ lands strongly. A common tracking question is whether the /l/ is velarized in casual speech; in standard careful speech it’s light but audible. Practice with context: “scalding water” helps feel the word’s natural placement.
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Scald traces to Old Norse skalta, meaning to leap or spring, with the sense of boiling water implying a sudden, harsh burn. In Middle English, the term evolved to denote both the action of pouring hot liquid and the resulting injury. The word’s current medical and culinary senses emerged over centuries as households standardized measures of heat and burn risk. The root underlying scald is linked to Proto-Germanic *skalt- and related forms in other Germanic languages that described heat or burning sensations. By the 14th century, scald appeared in English texts describing injuries from hot liquids, while culinary usage grew as recipes and techniques demanded precise handling of boiling or near-boiling liquids. The term has retained its precise physical meaning, even as modern medicine broadened the concept to scar, tissue damage, and burn management. First known written uses appear in Middle English medical glossaries and household recipe collections, where scald injury was a common hazard of cooking and domestic work.
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Help others use "Scald" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Scald" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Scald" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Scald"
-ald sounds
-re) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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