2 syllables: So, ber. Stress on So.
SOH-bur
/ˈsoʊbɚ/
Sober is pronounced SOH-bur (/ˈsoʊbɚ/). It has two syllables (So-ber), with the stress on "So". Sober is an adjective describing a state of not being intoxicated or any condition that is serious, sensible, or restrained. It denotes clarity of mind and restrained behavior, and can modify environments or attitudes (e.g., sober analysis or sober living). The term often carries connotations of moderation, responsibility, and a lack of frivolity in mood or action.
adjectiveSober is an adjective describing a state of not being intoxicated or any condition that is serious, sensible, or restrained. It denotes clarity of mind and restrained behavior, and can modify environments or attitudes (e.g., sober analysis or sober living). The term often carries connotations of moderation, responsibility, and a lack of frivolity in mood or action.
"He stayed sober after the long night out and headed home early."
"Her expression was sober, reflecting the gravity of the situation."
"The conference adopted a sober, straightforward tone for the discussion."
Pronounce as /ˈsoʊ.bər/ in US English, with primary stress on the first syllable. The first syllable uses the long “o” as in 'go' plus a subtle /ʊ/ glide, and the second syllable reduces to a rhotacized schwa /ər/ in rhotic accents. In UK English, it’s /ˈsəʊ.bə/ with a longer /əʊ/ diphthong and a non-rhotic final syllable for many speakers. Australian English is typically /ˈsəʊ.bə/ similarly non-rhotic, but vowel quality can be somewhat closer to /əʊ/ and the final /ə/ may be lighter. Practice by saying “SOE-ber,” then reduce the second vowel to a soft schwa.
Common errors include misplacing the primary stress (saying sou-ber or so-ber with wrong emphasis) and mispronouncing the /oʊ/ as a short /o/ or /ɒ/ sound. Another error is vocalizing the final /ər/ as a hard /er/ instead of a reduced /ər/ sound. To correct: emphasize the first syllable with /ˈsoʊ/ and relax the second to /bər/ or /bə/ depending on accent, keeping the final vowel relaxed and unstressed.
In US, /ˈsoʊ.bər/ in rhotic contexts; the final /r/ is pronounced. In UK, /ˈsəʊ.bə/ with a non-rhotic ending; the final vowel is a schwa and the /r/ is not pronounced. Australian typically mirrors UK/US rhotic tendencies in casual speech but leans toward a more centralized vowel in the second syllable, producing /ˈsəʊ.bə/. The key differences are the rhoticity and vowel quality of the first syllable: /oʊ/ in US and some AU speakers tends to be more close to /oʊ/; UK often reduces to /əʊ/ in careful speech.
The challenge lies in the length and quality of the first diphthong /oʊ/ and the reduced second syllable /ər/ or /ə/. In fast speech, the final syllable tends to shrink, making the /ɚ/ or /ə/ less audible. Learners also often misplace the primary stress or over-articulate the second syllable. Focusing on a clean long /oʊ/ in the first syllable and a short, relaxed second syllable helps. IPA cues: US /ˈsoʊ.bər/, UK /ˈsəʊ.bə/.
The first syllable in sober is open, with the /oʊ/ diphthong gliding from mid back to high front as in 'go' or 'toe.' It’s not followed by a closed consonant in the first syllable; the /s/ onset leads into the diphthong without a coda, so the nucleus remains the diphthong. Achieve clarity by sustaining the glide cleanly before moving to the second syllable’s lax/n reduce vowel.
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Sober comes from Middle English sober, derived from the Old English sābor, which in turn traces to Proto-Germanic *sabadaz or *sahibaz, indicating ‘uninjured, sound, sane.’ The semantic core shifted from literal physical sobriety to figurative mental clarity and restraint. In early records, sobriety was linked to sound judgment and temperance, especially in moral or temperate contexts. By the 14th–15th centuries, the word began to encompass not just abstinence from drink but the broader sense of seriousness, steadiness, and measured conduct. In modern usage, sober frequently modifies behavior (sober judgment), conditions (sober living), and states of mind (a sober reflection). The evolution reflects a cultural emphasis on rational, responsible thinking over impulsivity, with the word maintaining its dual sense of abstinence and level-headedness across English varieties.
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Words that rhyme with "Sober"
-wer sounds
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