TEYE-mur
/ˈtaɪmɚ/
timer is pronounced TEYE-mur (/ˈtaɪmɚ/). Timer is a small device or function that measures a set interval of time and alerts the user when that interval ends. It can be a physical gadget or a software feature. In everyday speech, “timer” refers to the object or action of timing something, often used in kitchens or labs. The word emphasizes the rapid, precise onset and completion of a timed period.
Timer is a small device or function that measures a set interval of time and alerts the user when that interval ends. It can be a physical gadget or a software feature. In everyday speech, “timer” refers to the object or action of timing something, often used in kitchens or labs. The word emphasizes the rapid, precise onset and completion of a timed period.
"I set the timer for 15 minutes to bake the cake."
"The countdown timer on the stove beeped when the eggs were ready."
"She used a timer to manage her study sessions efficiently."
Pronounce TI as /taɪ/ (rhymes with ‘fly’), followed by -mer as /mɚ/ in US and /mə/ in UK. Stress on the first syllable: /ˈtaɪ.mɚ/ (US) or /ˈtaɪ.mə/ (UK). Tip: keep the lips relaxed for the second syllable and finish with a gentle schwa or rhotacized vowel depending on accent. Audio reference: listen to native pronunciations on Cambridge or Forvo to hear the reduced final syllable.
Common errors: replacing /taɪ/ with a shorter /taɪ/ without diphthong clarity, producing /taɪ.mɪ/ or /taɪ.mər/ with a strong rhotic ending in UK. Correct by ensuring the first syllable carries the diphthong /aɪ/ and the second syllable is a quick /mɚ/ or /mə/ without adding an extra consonant. Practice with minimal pairs: timer vs tamer to solidify distinction of /ɪ/ vs /eɚ/ and reduce over-aspiration.
US: /ˈtaɪ.mɚ/ with rhotacized final and clear /ɚ/. UK: /ˈtaɪ.mə/ with non-rhotic ending; final syllable often reduced to /mə/. AU: /ˈtaɪ.mə/ similar to UK with broader vowels and less rhotic influence in casual speech. The main contrast is rhoticity and vowel quality in the second syllable; maintains the /aɪ/ diphthong in all, but rhotic vs non-rhotic r-coloring affects the perceived color of the ending.
The difficulty stems from the /aɪ/ diphthong in the first syllable and the final schwa /ɚ/ or /ə/ that may reduce or color differently across accents. Some speakers casually reduce the second syllable into a quick /mə/ or /ɚ/, which weakens clarity. Also, the cluster /m/ + vowel onset can be mispronounced as /mɚ/ with heavy rhotacization or as /mar/ if the vowel is too open. Focus on the glide transition between /aɪ/ and /m/.
In standard English, timer is a trochaic word with primary stress on the first syllable: TI-mer. In some rapid phrases or focus contexts, you may lightly upstep or emphasize the second syllable as part of a rhythm change, but the nucleus remains the first syllable. For SEO, ensure you keep /ˈtaɪ.mɚ/ or /ˈtaɪ.mə/ with a crisp initial diphthong and a quick, unstressed ending.
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Timer derives from the word time with the agentive suffix -er, indicating a device or person that performs an action. The root time comes from Old English tima, related to German Zeit and Dutch tijd, tracing back to Proto-Germanic temô, emphasizing the notion of measure or limit of a period. The suffix -er is a productive English morpheme forming agent nouns, suggesting something that performs the action of timing. The compound sense of a device that measures duration became common in the late 19th to early 20th century with the proliferation of mechanical and later electronic timers. Early usage often occurred in kitchen or laboratory contexts, evolving into a general term for any device or software component that starts, counts, and signals at a predetermined interval. Over time, timer also broadened into computing APIs and embedded systems that schedule tasks, preserving the core sense of measuring a fixed time span and signaling its end.
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Help others use "timer" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "timer" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "timer" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "timer"
-mer sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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