THIN-ur
/ˈθɪnɚ/
thinner is pronounced THIN-ur (/ˈθɪnɚ/). Thinner is the comparative form of thin, meaning more slender or less thick. It describes objects or profiles with reduced width or density, often used in physical descriptions or measurements. The word comprises two phonetic syllables and typically carries a light, clipped stress pattern in natural speech.
Thinner is the comparative form of thin, meaning more slender or less thick. It describes objects or profiles with reduced width or density, often used in physical descriptions or measurements. The word comprises two phonetic syllables and typically carries a light, clipped stress pattern in natural speech.
"The branch is thinner than it was last year."
"Her wrists look thinner after the workout regimen."
"The soup should be thinner if you want it to pour easily."
Pronounce as /ˈθɪnər/ in US and UK dictionaries. Start with the voiceless dental fricative /θ/ (tongue between teeth), then /ɪ/ as in 'sit', followed by a schwa /ə/ or /ɚ/ in non-stressed syllables. The main stress is on the first syllable: THIN-er. In casual speech, the second vowel often reduces to /ə/, so it sounds like /ˈθɪnə/; in careful speech, you may hear /ˈθɪn ər/. Audio practice: listen to native pronunciations on Pronounce, Forvo, or Cambridge audio.
Common errors: 1) Substituting /s/ or /t/ for the initial /θ/ sound (e.g., 'thin-er' with a dental stop). Correction: place tongue between teeth and blow air lightly to produce /θ/. 2) Over-articulating the second syllable, producing /ˈθɪnər/ with a strong 'er' instead of a reduced /ə/; aim for a quick, relaxed /ər/ or /ə/ depending on accent. 3) Stressed second syllable in careful speech—no; keep primary stress on the first syllable. Practice with minimal pairs to distinguish /θ/ from /f/ and /s/.
US: /ˈθɪnər/ with rhotic /ɚ/ in some contexts; vowel compact and sometimes /ə/ after /n/. UK: /ˈθɪnə/ with non-rhotic tendencies; final syllable often reduced to /ə/. AU: /ˈθɪnə/ with clear but quick /ənə/; vowel sound less centralized; possible glottalization of /t/ in rapid speech leading to a softer /nə/.
The difficulty centers on the initial /θ/ sound, which is a voiceless dental fricative not common in many languages; learners often substitute it with /f/ or /t/. Additionally, the second syllable reduces to a schwa or rhotacized /ɚ/ in US speech, which can blur the pronunciation if you’re not comfortable with vowel reduction. Finally, maintaining stress on the first syllable while the second syllable remains quickly spoken requires precise timing.
No. All letters are pronounced in careful speech, with the second syllable typically reduced; /n/ and /ər/ can merge in fluent American speech to /nɚ/ or /nə/. The primary challenge remains the initial /θ/ and the non-syllabic /ər/ reduction.
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Thinner derives from thin, with the comparative suffix -er, dating back to Old English thinere from the adjective thin with the productive comparative suffix -ere, later spelled -er. The root thin traces to Proto-Germanic þunaz, related to Old Norse þunnr and Dutch dun, all meaning 'thin' or 'slender.' Over centuries, the word acquired the grammatical comparative -er to express a relative degree of thinness. In Middle English, forms like thinner appeared in poetry and prose to describe physical breadth or density in comparison to another object. By Early Modern English, thinner had established its common modern usage in both tangible and metaphorical senses (e.g., 'thinner soup,' 'thinner margins'). The sense evolution emphasizes a measurable reduction in width, thickness, volume, or intensity, maintaining the core idea of decreased mass or density.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "thinner" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "thinner" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "thinner"
-ner sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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