SLEN-dur
/ˈslɛndɚ/
slender is pronounced SLEN-dur (/ˈslɛndɚ/). Slender describes someone or something with a gracefully slim and delicate frame. It can also refer to something of small width in proportion to height, suggesting elegance and fragility. The word conveys a precise, refined sense of narrowness rather than simply being thin.
Slender describes someone or something with a gracefully slim and delicate frame. It can also refer to something of small width in proportion to height, suggesting elegance and fragility. The word conveys a precise, refined sense of narrowness rather than simply being thin.
- -3 phonetic challenges: 1) Mispronouncing /ɛ/ as /eɪ/ or /iː/; correct with mouth opening wider at /ɛ/ as in 'bed'. 2) Final syllable confusion: sustain or over-articulate /ɚ/ vs /ə/, practice with US rhotic vs UK AU variants. 3) Slender is often devoiced when speakers think it's ending with 'er' in non-rhotic accents; ensure /ɚ/ or /ə/ rather than /ɹ/ syllable.
"The model wore a slender dress that skimmed her silhouette."
"He held a slender blade with a razor edge."
"The problem requires a slender margin of error to avoid overreach."
Pronounce as SLAEN-dər in US and UK typical; IPA /ˈslɛn.dɚ/ (US) and /ˈslɛn.də/ (UK) with primary stress on the first syllable. The first vowel is a short e as in 'bed'. The final -er is a rhotacized schwa in US (/ɚ/) and a reduced vowel in UK (/ə/). Keep your tongue relaxed mid-high behind the teeth and allow a light, quick r-colored ending. Audio reference: listen to native speakers saying 'slender' to fine-tune the rhotic ending.
Common errors: 1) Pronouncing the first vowel as a long 'ee' or 'i' sound; use /ɛ/ as in 'dress'. 2) Dropping the 'r' in non-rhotic accents, ending with /ˈslɛn.də/ instead of /ˈslɛn.dɚ/; in rhotic contexts, ensure the /ɚ/ is rhotacized. 3) Blending the syllables too quickly or not releasing the final vowel; aim for a clean /dɚ/ or /də/.
In US English, /ˈslɛn.dɚ/ with rhotacized final; vowel slightly shorter, smoother /ɚ/. UK English often uses /ˈslɛn.də/, with a non-rhotic ending ([də]), less rhoticity. Australian English similarly tends toward /ˈslɛn.də/ with a centralized or reduced final vowel and non-rhotic tendency in broader speech. The consonants remain the same, but the nucleus and coda quality vary, impacting perceived length and roundedness of the final vowel.
The challenge lies in the short, lax vowel /ɛ/ followed by a quick /n/ and a lightly released /d/ into a rhotic or reduced final vowel. The transition from /l/ to /ɛ/ to /n/ requires precise timing, and in some regions, the final /ɚ/ or /ə/ can blur with preceding consonants. Speakers often mis-tap the /d/ or overemphasize the final vowel, making the word sound drawn out. Focus on a crisp onset and clean syllable separation.
Yes. The first syllable carries primary stress; the /l/ is light before /ɛn/ and the /d/ is a brief, postvocalic stop leading into the final reduced vowel. The final syllable does not carry stress, so you should shorten or lax the /ɚ/ or /ə/ depending on accent. This subtle timing—stressed first syllable, quick second syllable—defines natural, native-sounding pronunciation.
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US: rhotic /ɚ/ ending, quicker vowel in final; UK/AU: non-rhotic /ə/ final, reduce final vowel, softer r. Vowel quality differences: US /ɛ/ similar to 'dress'; UK/AU may be closer to /æ/ but still /ɛn/ nucleus. IPA references: US /ˈslɛn.dɚ/, UK /ˈslɛn.də/, AU /ˈslɛn.də/. Consonant: light /l/ and a flapped-like /d/ in rapid speech, avoid over-emphasizing /d/.
Slender comes from Middle English slenderen, from Old English slenderian, meaning to make slender, which itself derived from the Proto-Germanic *slendrōjaną, related to slender. The root implies to make narrow or fine. Over centuries, the sense evolved from literally thin or narrow to a figurative sense of delicateness or elegance in shape or form. In early usage, slender often described physical build but gradually extended to describe objects with a slim profile or a delicate quality. By the 15th century, the word appears in literature with connotations of elegance and refinement, not merely lack of bulk. The shift from tangible width to qualitative nuance is typical of aesthetic adjectives in English, where slender can suggest both proportional beauty and fragility. First known written uses appear in late medieval text where materials, clothing, and bodily descriptions emphasize slender proportions, and by Early Modern English the term was well established as a versatile descriptor for form and design.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "slender" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "slender"
-der sounds
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