WEE-kur
/ˈwikɚ/
weaker is pronounced WEE-kur (/ˈwikɚ/). Weaker is the comparative adjective or noun form indicating lesser strength or intensity. In everyday usage, it describes something lacking force, power, or firmness, or a weaker version of something. The word often appears in contexts like physical strength, performance, or resistance, and can also function in idiomatic expressions. Pronunciation centers on a stressed first syllable with a lax, reduced final syllable.
Weaker is the comparative adjective or noun form indicating lesser strength or intensity. In everyday usage, it describes something lacking force, power, or firmness, or a weaker version of something. The word often appears in contexts like physical strength, performance, or resistance, and can also function in idiomatic expressions. Pronunciation centers on a stressed first syllable with a lax, reduced final syllable.
"The wind grew weaker as the storm passed overhead."
"Her grip on the handle was weaker after the long run."
"The argument lost momentum and became weaker over time."
You pronounce it WEAK-er with the primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈwiː.kər/ (US/UK). The first vowel is a long /iː/ as in “see,” the second syllable reduces to /ər/ or /ər/ in many accents. In careful speech, keep the /k/ clear before the schwa. In faster speech, the final /ər/ can become a reduced syllabic sound like /ɚ/ in Americans and /ə/ in many British pronunciations, but the /k/ should remain distinct. IPA: US /ˈwiː.kɚ/, UK /ˈwiː.kə/, AU /ˈwiː.kə(ɹ)/.
Two common errors are turning /wiː/ into a short /wɪ/ or shortening the second syllable to a full /ər/ with a strong r-coloration. Another frequent mistake is linking the syllables too tightly so the /k/ blends into the following vowel, creating /ˈwiːkəɹ/ or /ˈwiːkəɹ/ with weak separation. Correction: keep the first syllable long and tense, clearly pronounce /k/ before the schwa, and end with a relaxed, unstressed /ɚ/ or /ə/. Practice slow isolation of /wiː/ + /k/ + /ə/ or /ɹ/ depending on accent.
US tends toward rhotic /ɹ/ in the final syllable with a clear /ɚ/ or /əɹ/; UK often uses a non-rhotic /ə/ ending in careful speech, with a lighter /ə/ or /əː/, and the first vowel remains a long /iː/. Australian accents typically keep /ɹ/ less strongly; the final vowel is often a schwa, and the overall vowel quality of /iː/ may be a bit shorter. IPA baselines: US /ˈwiː.kɚ/, UK /ˈwiː.kə/, AU /ˈwiː.kə(ɹ)/, focusing on rhoticity and vowel reduction differences.
The challenge lies in maintaining a long /iː/ before a hard /k/ and transitioning into a reduced /ə/ or /ɚ/ at the end without inserting extra vowels. Many speakers cluster /iː/ with a short, clipped /k/, then over-assert the final /r/ in non-rhotic accents. To master it, practice the triplet /wiː/ + /k/ + /ə/ with controlled tempo and pause between syllables, then blend into a smooth, even cadence.
The word uniquely showcases a strong initial vowel /iː/ followed by /k/ before a reduced final syllable; it emphasizes focal stress on the first syllable while the second is quickly reduced. The combination of a long vowel, a hard c, and a reduced final syllable makes timing and mouth positioning critical, especially to avoid a blend that sounds like 'weaker' with reduced clarity.
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Weaker derives from the adjective weak, with the comparative suffix -er. Weak itself comes from Old English wæc, related to the concept of lacking strength or vigor. The comparative -er attached to weak dates to Middle English, aligning with similar adjective formation in Germanic languages. Over centuries, weaker retained its straightforward meaning “more weak,” but usage broadened to cover metaphorical weaknesses (arguments, economies, defenses) in addition to physical strength. First known uses appear in Middle English texts, where writers compared attributes by degree of strength or vigor. In modern English, weaker is a stable, productive comparative used across both literal and figurative contexts, frequently paired with adverbs such as “much,” “much more,” or “slightly.” The evolution reflects a general tendency in West Germanic languages to mark comparatives by suffixes and to extend “weakness” to abstract domains such as resolve, resolve, or performance. An explicit first known citation is difficult to pinpoint due to the oral transmission of medieval texts, but documentary evidence points to sustained use from the late medieval period onward in both prose and poetry, aligned with the linguistic shifts that shaped modern comparative adjectives.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "weaker" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "weaker" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "weaker"
-ker sounds
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