3 syllables: Ti, a, ra. Stress on a.
tee-AH-ruh
/tiˈɑɹə/
Tiara is pronounced tee-AH-ruh (/tiˈɑɹə/). It has three syllables (Ti-a-ra), with the stress on "a". Tiara is a small, decorative crown worn by a person of note, typically a princess or ceremonial figure. As a noun, it describes a conical, jeweled headpiece worn on formal occasions. The term often implies elegance and femininity, and in everyday speech it can refer to any dressy headband or circlet worn for special events.
nounTiara is a small, decorative crown worn by a person of note, typically a princess or ceremonial figure. As a noun, it describes a conical, jeweled headpiece worn on formal occasions. The term often implies elegance and femininity, and in everyday speech it can refer to any dressy headband or circlet worn for special events.
"She wore a glittering tiara to the gala tomorrow night."
"The queen's tiara, set with diamonds, glinted under the chandeliers."
"For the pageant, she adjusted her tiara before stepping onto the stage."
Begin with /ti/ as in 'tea' with a short, crisp t. Then the stressed syllable /ˈɑː/ places a broad, open back vowel similar to 'father' in many accents. Conclude with /rə/ where the r is pronounced (American and Australian rhotic) or a subtle vowel in non-rhotic UK speech. IPA: US/UK/AU: ti-ˈɑː-rə, with primary stress on the second syllable. Think: 'tee-AH-rah' with emphasis on AH. Audio reference: imagine a steady, crisp onset followed by a long open-mid vowel and a light 'rah' ending.
Common mistakes: misplacing stress as ti-AR-a with primary stress on the first or third syllable; shortening the /ɑː/ to a lax /æ/ as in 'tih-ara'; or dropping the final /ɹ/ in non-rhotic dialects. Corrections: keep the primary stress on the second syllable (ti-ˈɑː-rə), ensure the /ɑː/ is a long, open-back vowel, and articulate the final /ɹ/ or a clear schwa depending on dialect (rhotic vs non-rhotic). Practice with slow pacing, then speed up while maintaining vowel length and r-coloring.
US/AU are rhotic; you’ll hear /tiˈɑːɹə/ with rhotic r-sound in the second syllable and final /ɹ/. UK varieties tend to be non-rhotic; you may hear /tiˈɑːə/ or /tiˈɑːrə/ with a weaker or non-pronounced /ɹ/ at the end and a shorter trailing vowel. AU tends to maintain a clear /ɹ/ but with vowel quality closer to /ɜː/ for some speakers; overall, the stressed /ˈɑː/ remains long and open. IPA references: US /tiˈɑːɹə/, UK /tiˈɑːə/ (non-rhotic), AU /tiˈɑːɹə/.
Tiara challenges include maintaining a long, open back vowel /ɑː/ during the stressed syllable and coordinating a precise final /rə/ or /ə/ depending on dialect. The combination of a stressed mid-to-low back vowel and a trailing rhotic or a non-rhotic ending makes it easy to compress the vowels or misplace stress. The word also requires a clean onset /t/ and avoidance of a reduced second syllable vowel. Practice with controlled vowel length and a crisp final consonant.
Yes. Tiara follows a classic iambic-ish pattern: ti-ˈɑː-rə, with primary stress on the second syllable. This means you pronounce /ti/ quickly, then invest energy in the /ˈɑː/ and a lighter, quick /rə/ ending. Keeping the second syllable stressed helps avoid pronouncing it as 'tee-AR-a' or distributing emphasis unevenly. In rapid speech, you still maintain the stronger sonority on /ˈɑː/ to preserve the intended rhythm.
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Tiara comes from Greek tiara (tiaron), meaning a royal headdress or crown, later adopted into Latin as tiara and then into English. The word likely entered English via medieval Latin tiara or diadem, influenced by the Persian word tirā’ meaning foot of a king’s crown or a circlet. The early sense referred to ceremonial crowns worn by royalty, especially in Greek and Roman contexts, and by the Renaissance it broadened to include decorative headpieces for women. By the 19th and 20th centuries, tiara largely signified a jeweled headpiece worn for formal occasions rather than a functional cap or crown for ruling monarchs. The modern usage emphasizes ornamental status rather than political authority, though that lineage persists in fashion and pageantry contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Tiara" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Tiara"
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