uhn-FOHLD
/əˈnfoʊld/
unfold is pronounced uhn-FOHLD (/əˈnfoʊld/). Unfold means to become open or revealed, or to reveal gradually by developing or revealing details. It can describe a sequence of events revealing information or the process of opening something that was folded. The term often carries a sense of gradual progression from concealment to clarity, or from a compact state to a full display.
Unfold means to become open or revealed, or to reveal gradually by developing or revealing details. It can describe a sequence of events revealing information or the process of opening something that was folded. The term often carries a sense of gradual progression from concealment to clarity, or from a compact state to a full display.
"The story will unfold as you read further, revealing clues gradually."
"She watched the map unfold on the table, its corners easing into view."
"Over the weeks, the plan began to unfold and more details emerged."
Pronounce as un-FOLD with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA for US: ʌnˈfoʊld; UK: ʌnˈfəʊld; AU: ʌnˈfəʊld. Start with a short 'uh' sound, then a light 'n', and finish with the 'fold' where the oʊ (US) or əʊ (UK/AU) carries the vocalization. Ensure the /l/ is clear before the final /d/.
Two frequent errors: (1) Stress misplacement, saying un- FOLD with weak intonation on fold; ensure primary stress on the second syllable as /ʌnˈfoʊld/. (2) Vowel quality in the final syllable: avoid a lax /o/—pronounce the long o as /oʊ/ (US) or /əʊ/ (UK/AU). Practicing by isolating the second syllable and combining with the prefix helps. Maintain a clean /l/ before the final /d/.
In US English, you’ll hear /ʌnˈfoʊld/ with a clear long /oʊ/. UK/AU tend toward /ʌnˈfəʊld/ with a centering vowel in non-rhotic accents; the /r/ is not pronounced and the second syllable uses /əʊ/ or /oʊ/ depending on speaker. US tends to a slightly crisper /foʊld/; UK/AU may show a subtle reduction in the /fə/ portion, leaning toward /fəʊ/ or /oʊ/ sequences. Overall rhoticity does not affect unfold substantially; both US and UK maintain the spelling‑sound alignment.
The difficulty lies in blending the prefix un- with the /foʊld/ cluster, ensuring the /f/ leads into a smooth /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ glide, and maintaining a crisp /l/ before final /d/. Some speakers insert a slight extra vowel or hesitate before /foʊld/, which diffuses the stress and rhythm. Focus on the transition from /n/ to /f/ and keeping the /l/ clear before /d/.
Yes, the prefix un- here creates a strong syllable boundary before the stressed second syllable. The /n/ links quickly to the /f/ without a trailing vowel between, so you’ll hear un-FOLD as two tight beats; the vowel in the second syllable carries most of the vowel duration in casual speech, while careful speech keeps a full /foʊld/ sequence.
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Unfold originates from the combination of un- (a prefix meaning opposite or removal) and fold (to bend or double over). Its first sense in English appeared in the early modern period, echoing the literal action of unfolding fabric or paper. The verb fold itself traces to Old English folian, related to German falten, with a core meaning of bending or pleating. The prefix un- began to pair with various verbs in Middle English to denote reversal or reversal action, and unfold emerged as the natural linguistic extension to describe the act of unbending something that had been folded, leading to broader metaphoric uses such as ideas or stories being made visible. By the 17th–18th centuries, unfold as a figurative term for events or narratives began to appear in literature and correspondence, maintaining a tonic sense of gradual revelation. In contemporary usage, unfold emphasizes process and timing, often implying an organic progression from concealment toward clarity. First known uses appear in legal and travel writings where maps and plans were literally unfolded to reveal crucial information. Over time, its semantic field broadened to include abstract reveals, sequences of scenes, and the unfolding of plans or plots, preserving the metaphor of something being spread out to be examined or understood.
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Words that rhyme with "unfold"
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