One syllable: Spout.
spowt
/spaʊt/
Spout is pronounced spowt (/spaʊt/). It has one syllable (Spout), with the stress on "Spout". Spout is a noun meaning a narrow, protruding stream or jet of liquid, often from a container or fountain, or a projecting pipe end. It can also refer to a sudden, forceful utterance or outward eruption. In everyday use, it denotes the act of directing liquid or gas through a narrow opening, sometimes with a connotation of force or overflow.
nounSpout is a noun meaning a narrow, protruding stream or jet of liquid, often from a container or fountain, or a projecting pipe end. It can also refer to a sudden, forceful utterance or outward eruption. In everyday use, it denotes the act of directing liquid or gas through a narrow opening, sometimes with a connotation of force or overflow.
- 2-3 phonetic challenges: 1) The /aʊ/ diphthong: slide from /a/ to /ʊ/ smoothly; 2) Final /t/: avoid voicing it or turning it into an extra syllable; 3) S + P cluster: maintain tight lip closure without adding epenthesis or extra voicing. - Corrections: 1) practice mini-syllables spa +ʊt; move from open jaw to rounded lip position quickly; 2) use a crisp, unreleased /t/ or a light release; 3) keep the s-blend hissing without voicing the following consonant. - Practice routine: say spa-owt rapidly 20 times, then connect to phrases, then record for feedback.
"The kettle’s spout frothed as it poured boiling water."
"A broken pipe sent a spout of water across the room."
"He issued a sudden spout of words after the debate started."
Pronounce as spaʊt in US/UK/AU. The initial consonant cluster sp is two articulations in quick sequence: an s with a hissing edge and a voiceless bilabial plosive p. The vowel is a diphthong merging /a/ to /ʊ/ (roughly ‘ah-ow’ as in ‘s-ow-t’). The final /t/ is a standard voiceless alveolar stop. Place your tongue high at the start, then glide toward a rounded, near-u vowel position before closing with a crisp t. Compare to ‘sprout’ which has a similar vowel but with an additional r influence in some accents.
Common errors include turning the diphthong into a pure /a/ or /ɔː/ by aging it too flat, and delaying the /t/, producing an audible LIP-FILL before the stop. Another mistake is adding an extra vowel between /a/ and /ʊ/. To correct: practice a clean, rapid transition from /a/ to /ʊ/ within the same syllable, keep the final /t/ unreleased or released crisply, and avoid post-consonantal voicing. Practicing with minimal pairs helps fix these issues.
In US and UK, spout remains /spaʊt/ with a similar diphthong, but the length and rounding of /a/ to /ʊ/ can vary; some US speakers show slightly tighter jaw movement and less rounding. Australian speakers may exhibit a slightly more centralized vowel quality, with a marginally broader /ɔ/-like transition. The /t/ at the end may be unreleased in rapid speech in all regions; emphasis can shift with sentence stress.
The challenge lies in the diphthong /aʊ/ moving into a short, clipped /t/ after quickly shifting from an s-blend; timing is key. Tongue position must move from a low to a high-back position while the lips round for the /ʊ/ portion, all within a tight syllable. Misplacing the tongue or lengthening the vowel too much disrupts the natural rhythm and makes the word sound like ‘spout’ with a drawn-out vowel or a missed stop.
Spout has no silent letters; all letters contribute to its pronunciation: s (voiceless alveolar s), p (voiceless bilabial plosive), ou (diphthong /aʊ/), t (voiceless alveolar stop). The challenge is blending the /aʊ/ glide smoothly into the final /t/ without inserting an extra vowel or weakening the stop. Maintaining crisp closure on /t/ ensures the word lands firmly in fluent speech.
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- US: /spaʊt/ with slightly flat /a/ and rounded /ʊ/. Emphasize rhotic differences by avoiding extra r-coloring; lips should round briefly for /ʊ/. - UK: similar /spaʊt/ but the vowel may be marginally fronter and crisper with less tongue retraction; final t can be unreleased in casual speech. - AU: can feature a slightly more centralized /aʊ/ and a softer release on /t/. IPA references: US /spaʊt/, UK /spaʊt/, AU /spaʊt/; watch lip rounding and jaw position to avoid vowel length biases.
Spout derives from the early Middle English word spaut, related to the Old Norse spauta and the Dutch spout, all tied to the sense of a projecting pipe or nozzle. The core meaning centers on a narrow outlet through which liquid or gas exits under pressure. By the 15th century, spout appeared in English as a mechanical outlet on vessels and fountains, distinguishing the projecting lip from the vessel body. The sense of a sudden utterance or outburst extended from the idea of projecting material; historically, to spout meant to throw forth with force. The word’s usage broadened to cover both physical jets (water, steam) and figurative outpourings (words, language). The phonetic form spaʊt has remained stable in modern English, with the vowel sound reflecting a short /a/ plus an upgliding /ʊ/ in many dialects. First known uses appear in Middle English texts describing fountains and pipes, with later literary and technical adoption in the 17th–19th centuries as plumbing and fountain terminology expanded.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Spout" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Spout" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Spout" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Spout"
-out sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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