2 syllables: So, nar. Stress on So.
SOH-nahr
/ˈsoʊnɑɹ/
Sonar is pronounced SOH-nahr (/ˈsoʊnɑɹ/). It has two syllables (So-nar), with the stress on "So". Sonar is a system that uses sound waves to detect and locate objects underwater, typically by emitting blasts of sound and listening for echoes. It is used in submarines, ships, and underwater mapping, and can be either active (emitting signals) or passive (listening for sounds). The term also extends to sonar technology in various navigation and depth-sounding applications. Overall, it describes acoustic detection methods under water.
nounSonar is a system that uses sound waves to detect and locate objects underwater, typically by emitting blasts of sound and listening for echoes. It is used in submarines, ships, and underwater mapping, and can be either active (emitting signals) or passive (listening for sounds). The term also extends to sonar technology in various navigation and depth-sounding applications. Overall, it describes acoustic detection methods under water.
- You may flatten the first vowel, saying /sənɑr/ instead of /ˈsoʊ.nɑɹ/. Focus on a full, rounded /oʊ/ vowel. - The second syllable might become a quick /nɑ/ without the open, back vowel; ensure a clear /n/ then an open /ɑ/ before the rhotic or silent final. - Try not to turn the second syllable into a reduced schwa; keep /ɑ/ quality to preserve contrast with the first syllable. Practice with slow speed then speed up.
"The submarine activated its sonar to map the seabed."
"Researchers used sonar data to track dolphin movements."
"Sonar technology helps boats avoid underwater hazards."
Pronounce it as SO-nar in US, with stress on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈsoʊ.nɑɹ/, UK/AU /ˈsəʊ.nɑː/. Start with an initial clear s, then a long o sound, then n, followed by a relaxed, open a r-colored final vowel. Listen to native examples and aim for a crisp ping on the first beat.
Common errors include reducing the first syllable to a short /sən/ or mispronouncing the second syllable as /nɑɹ/ with too much r-color. Another pitfall is merging the two syllables into a single closed syllable. Correct by stressing the first syllable, using a long /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ vowel, and ensuring the final /ɹ/ or /ɹ/ is lightly pronounced after /ɑ/.
In US English, /ˈsoʊ.nɑɹ/ uses rhotic r and a tense diphthong /oʊ/. UK/AU variants tend toward /ˈsəʊ.nɑː/ with non-rhoticity preferred; the final vowel is a long open back /ɑː/ and /ɹ/ is less pronounced in British RP. Australian tends to be closer to UK but with some rhoticity in casual speech; the diphthong quality can slide toward /əʊ/ depending on speaker.
The challenge lies in balancing the two-syllable structure with distinct vowel qualities: a strong first syllable vowel and a relatively flat second syllable vowel that can drift toward /ə/ or /ɑː/ depending on accent. The presence of final /ɹ/ or /ɹ/ in rhotic accents requires careful tongue positioning to avoid adding an unnecessary vowel. Practicing with minimal pairs helps stabilize both vowel height and final consonant clarity.
Yes. The word contains a stressed first syllable with a preceding voiceless consonant cluster /s-/. Ensure the /s/ is crisp, the /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ is elongated, and the final /nɑɹ/ or /nɑː/ maintains a light rhotic ending. The key is keeping the first syllable dominant while allowing a clean, non-syllabic coda on the second syllable in some dialects.
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- US: emphasize rhotic final /ɹ/, keep /oʊ/ diphthong vivid; avoid diphthong collapse. - UK: aim for /ˈsəʊ.nɑː/ with non-rhoticity, longer /əʊ/ and broad /ɑː/; the /ɹ/ may be silent in careful speech. - AU: often similar to UK but with more syllable-timed rhythm; final /ɹ/ lightly pronounced or omitted in casual speech. Use IPA benchmarks: /ˈsoʊˌnɑɹ/ (US), /ˈsəʊˌnɑː/ (UK/AU).
Sonar derives from the acronym SOund Navigation And Ranging. It originated in the early 20th century as a naval technology to detect objects submerged in water by emitting sound pulses and listening for their echoes. The concept builds on earlier acoustic methods like echo ranging and hydrophone arrays. The first practical sonar systems emerged during World War II, with improvements in signal processing, transducer technology, and decoding of return signals. The term was popularized in maritime circles and quickly broadened to civilian uses such as fish finding and underwater mapping. Over decades, sonar has evolved to include sidescan, multibeam, synthetic aperture sonar, and passive listening systems, expanding its application from military to scientific, commercial, and recreational underwater exploration.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Sonar" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Sonar" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Sonar"
-no) sounds
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