TRAYD-mahrk
/ˈtɹeɪˌdmɑɹk/
trademark is pronounced TRAYD-mahrk (/ˈtɹeɪˌdmɑɹk/). A word that denotes a legally registered sign or indicator used to distinguish products or services from others. It can also refer to the process of obtaining that protection, or the mark itself as a symbol of brand identity. In everyday usage, it often appears in discussions of intellectual property and branding strategy.
A word that denotes a legally registered sign or indicator used to distinguish products or services from others. It can also refer to the process of obtaining that protection, or the mark itself as a symbol of brand identity. In everyday usage, it often appears in discussions of intellectual property and branding strategy.
- You may blend the two syllables too tightly, producing something like /ˈtrædmærk/ instead of a clear /ˈtrædˌmɑrk/. Practice separating the /d/ into a clean stop and ensuring the second syllable starts with an audible /m/. - Another common mistake is misplacing stress, saying /ˈtrædˌmɑrk/ with equal emphasis or putting primary stress on the second syllable; keep primary stress on the first syllable. - Finally, mispronouncing the second syllable vowel as an /ɪ/ or /iː/ can undermine the term; aim for /mɑrk/ with an open back unrounded /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ sound depending on accent.
"The company filed a trademark application to protect its logo."
"We need to check if that phrase is already trademarked before using it in marketing."
"The strength of a trademark can depend on how distinctive it is."
Pronounce it as /ˈtrædˌmɑrk/ in US English, with the primary stress on the first syllable. The first part “træd” rhymes with “bad” and the second syllable “mɑrk” uses the ‘ar’ as in ‘car.’ In careful articulation you can emphasize the /t/ release and keep a clear boundary between /d/ and /m/. You can listen to native audio on pronunciation resources to hear the smooth transition between syllables.
Common mistakes include running the parts together too loosely, producing /ˈtrædˌmɑːk/ with a long /ɑː/ instead of the quicker /ɑ/ as in ‘car’ and misplacing the stress, saying /ˈtrædˌmɑrk/ with an abrupt /d/ release. Another error is skipping the light schwa or reducing syllables, yielding /ˈtrædmɑrk/ or /ˈtrædmɑːk/. To correct: clearly separate the syllables ‘træd’ and ‘märk’, keep the /t/ crisp, and maintain primary stress on the first syllable while finishing with a sharp /k/.
In US English, /ˈtrædˌmɑrk/ with rhotic /r/ in the second syllable and a short /a/ in ‘trait’-like first syllable; UK English uses /ˈtrædˌmɑːk/ with a longer /ɑː/ and less rhotic emphasis, and you may notice a non-rhotic influence in careful speech before a following word. Australian English tends toward /ˈtrædˌmɑːk/ with a broad /ɐ/ quality and a slightly darker /ɑː/ vowel. All share the primary stress on the first syllable, but vowel length and rhoticity vary.
The difficulty lies in the two-syllable structure where the first syllable ends in /d/ and the second begins with /m/ close to the onset of a new syllable, which can cause a slight assimilation or blending for some speakers. The /æ/ versus /a/ quality and the /ɑ/ in the second syllable can also be tricky when rapid speech occurs. Focus on crisp consonants /t/ and /d/, distinct boundary between syllables, and accurate /ɑ/ vowel quality for the second syllable.
’ Answer: The first syllable contains a short /æ/ as in ‘cat,’ and the final cluster begins with a clear /t/ release then a separate /m/; the /t/ and /m/ are distinct sounds in sequence, so you should aim for a brief pause between /d/ and /m/ to prevent blending in fast speech.
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Trademark originated in the 16th–17th centuries as a compound of two Old English elements: ‘træ,’ meaning a sign or token, and ‘mark,’ meaning a visible sign or symbol. The modern sense emerged by the 18th century, with merchants using marks to signify quality or origin of goods. The term evolved from simpler craft marks to a formal legal concept that grants exclusive rights to use the sign in commerce. The first known legal recognition of marks appeared in early English statutes that regulated sellers and branded goods. Over time, trademark law spread internationally, adopting variations like “brand name” in common law systems and “marque déposée” in some civil law contexts. In contemporary usage, trademark typically refers both to the sign itself and to the protection granted by law, rather than to the notion of branding alone.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "trademark" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "trademark"
-ack sounds
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