Sour is a noun referring to a taste that is acidic and tart, often sharp or biting. It can describe flavors, reactions, or moods that are sharp, caustic, or unpleasant. In culinary contexts it denotes tanginess, while in idiomatic use it can characterize experiences or outcomes that are disappointing or acidic in nature.
"The lemon gave the coffee a strong sour note that woke him up."
"The sour taste lingered after he forgot to add sugar."
"Her sour mood changed the room's energy within minutes."
"The sauce had a sour tang that clashed with the sweet dessert."
Sour traces to the Old English word soure, from proto-Germanic sauraz, related to Old High German saur and Dutch zuur, all tied to the PIE root s-wor- meaning ‘acid’ or ‘sharp’. The term originally described taste and later extended to metaphorical senses like a sour mood or a sour relationship. The word appears in English literature by the early medieval period, with evolving spellings such as soure and sore before stabilizing in Middle English to ‘sour.’ Its semantic trajectory shows a consistent emphasis on acidity and unpleasantness, then broadening to describe experiences (sour luck, sour deal) as equivalent to acerbic or disagreeable qualities. Over time, sour also developed idiomatic phrases like “sour grapes” (negative evaluation of favorable outcomes) and “sour note” (an unpleasant interruption in a sequence). In modern usage, sour remains a versatile noun and adjective in culinary and metaphorical contexts, retaining its core sense of sharpness and tanginess.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Sour" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Sour" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Sour"
-our sounds
-me) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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You pronounce it as /saʊr/ in General American, with an initial /s/ followed by the diphthong /aʊ/ (as in 'how') and ending with rhotic /r/. In UK and Australian accents, it’s /saʊə/ or /saʊəʳ/ in non-rhotic varieties, where the final rhotic is less pronounced. Mouth positions: lips slightly rounded toward the end of /aʊ/ and a light trailing /r/ in rhotic accents. Audio reference: compare with 'sour' in standard pronunciation videos.
Common errors include: 1) Slurring the diphthong into a simple /ɔr/ or /ɜr/ by not gliding from /a/ to /ʊ/; 2) Dropping the final /r/ in rhotic accents, making it sound like /saʊ/; 3) Over-articulating the /r/ turning it into a murky /ɹ/ cluster. Corrections: keep the /aɪ/ style glide: start at /a/ then slide to /ʊ/ while gently curling the tongue for the /r/; maintain a light but audible rhotic release. Practice with minimal pairs and mirror cues.
US: clear rhotic /ɹ/ at the end, diphthong /aʊ/ strongly pronounced, result /saʊɹ/. UK: often non-rhotic; may pronounce as /saʊə/ with a weaker or absent /r/. Australia: typically rhotic with a noticeable /ɹ/ but vowel shifts can soften /aʊ/ toward a near-diphthong. In all, the core /saʊ/ cluster remains; the trailing vowel and rhoticity distinguish accents. Remember the /aʊ/ move and the post-vocalic /r/ presence or absence.
Because it’s a short, high-front sibilant followed by a precise diphthong /aʊ/ that requires a quick tongue shift from /s/ to /a/ and then a smooth glide into /ɹ/. The end rhotic /ɹ/ can be tricky for non-native speakers, and regional rhotic variations change the audible ending. Achieving balanced timing: not too long on /a/ and not rushing into /ɹ/.
Notice that the /aʊ/ should not be pronounced as /a/ followed by /ʊ/ separately. It’s a smooth glide: /saʊɹ/ in rhotic accents. Keep the tongue high and forward for /a/ but allow the jaw to drop slightly into the /ʊ/ portion of the diphthong before releasing into /ɹ/. This helps avoid mispronunciations like /saɜɹ/ or /soʊɹ/.
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