2 syllables: Won, der. Stress on Won.
WUHN-dur
/ˈwʌndɚ/
Wonder is pronounced WUHN-dur (/ˈwʌndɚ/). It has two syllables (Won-der), with the stress on "Won". Wonder (verb): to feel admiration, surprise, or curiosity; to think about something with a sense of astonishment or inquiry. It often signals curiosity about a person, event, or phenomenon, or to consider something with reverence or doubt. The sense can span astonishment, reflection, and wonderment in response to unfamiliar or remarkable things.
verbWonder (verb): to feel admiration, surprise, or curiosity; to think about something with a sense of astonishment or inquiry. It often signals curiosity about a person, event, or phenomenon, or to consider something with reverence or doubt. The sense can span astonishment, reflection, and wonderment in response to unfamiliar or remarkable things.
- You often miscast the first vowel as a long /ɔ/ or /oʊ/ sound. Fix: shorten to a pure open-back vowel (US /ɑ/ or UK /ɒ/) and immediately reduce the second syllable to /ər/ or /ə/ without extra vowel length. - You over-articulate the second syllable, turning /də/ into /dɜːr/ or a full /der/. Fix: keep /n/ cleanly closed, relax the jaw for a quick /ə/ and a light /r/ in rhotic speakers. - You stress the second syllable or give it more weight than the first. Fix: ensure primary stress on the first syllable; the second should be light and fast, like a quiet ending.
"She will wonder whether she made the right decision."
"Children often wonder about the stars and planets at night."
"He began to wonder if the plan would actually work."
Pronounced as /ˈwɑn.dər/ (US) or /ˈwɒn.də/ (UK), with the primary stress on the first syllable. Begin with an open back unrounded vowel in the first syllable, followed by a rhotacized or reduced second syllable depending on accent: /-dər/ in American, /-də/ in many UK varieties. Keep the 'w' as a labio-velar approximant, and avoid turning it into a 'wow' sound. You’ll want a short, quick finale on the second syllable. Reference audio sources like Pronounce or YouGlish to hear real-time pronunciations.
Common errors include pronouncing the first syllable as ‘woe’ (/woʊ/), yielding /ˈwoʊn.dər/, and over-articulating the second syllable as a full /ər/ in non-rhotic accents. Correct with: keep first syllable /ˈwɒn/ or /ˈwɑn/ depending on your accent, and reduce the second to a schwa in non-rhotic speakers (/ˈwɒn.də/). Practice by isolating the first syllable, then the second, then a smooth blend /ˈwɒn.də/ or /ˈwɑn.dɚ/.
In US English, final /ɚ/ is rhotacized (sounds like 'er'), so /ˈwɑn.dɚ/. In UK English, final is often /ə/ or /ə(r)/, with less rhotacization in many regions: /ˈwɒn.də/. Australian English mirrors non-rhotic tendencies, leaning toward /ˈwɒn.də/ with a shorter, lax final vowel and reduced rhotic quality. The first syllable remains stressed in all. Pay attention to vowel quality: American /ɒ/ vs. British /ɒ/ and Australian /ɒ/; the main difference is the rhotic vs non-rhotic final sound and vowel reduction.
Difficulties come from the short, lax first vowel and the reduced second syllable, especially for non-native speakers. The contrast between the open low back vowel in the first syllable (US /ɑ/ or UK /ɒ/) and the mid-central/unreduced schwa in the second syllable requires precise tongue height and lip position. Additionally, final /ər/ or /ə/ can blur into a syllabic or approximant sound. Practice with minimal pairs to stabilize the vowel transitions and reduce vowel shortening.
The word’s stress pattern and rapid vowel transition demand crisp articulation: /ˈwɑn.dər/ (US) vs /ˈwɒn.də/ (UK/AU). The key is keeping the first syllable tense and the second syllable short and reduced, avoiding a prolonged /ɑ/ or an over-articulated /d/. Visualize a quick attack on the first syllable, then a relaxed, almost muted second syllable. Using a mirror to monitor lip rounding helps ensure the vowels stay distinct.
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- US: Maintain rhotic final /ɚ/ or /ər/ with a relaxed tongue, lips neutral. - UK: Non-rhotic tendency, final vowel reduced to /ə/, avoid curling the tongue for a strong /r/. - AU: Similar to UK, but can be less precise with /ɒ/ vs /ɔ/; keep the second syllable short and lax. IPA references help: US /ˈwɑn.dɚ/, UK /ˈwɒn.də/, AU /ˈwɒn.də/.
Wonder as a verb traces to Old English wundrian, from wundre (marvel) and wundor (a marvel, phenomenon). The root is tied to Proto-Germanic *wundraz, related to the concept of a wounder or something that causes astonishment. The word carried the sense of being surprised by something extraordinary. Over time, Old English used wundrian to mean to marvel or be astonished; by Middle English, wonder broadened to include reflecting on something with curiosity or doubt. The modern sense of considering or thinking about something with curiosity developed, especially with phrases like ‘I wonder’ indicating curiosity about a fact or possibility. The verb’s semantic field has expanded to include both emotional astonishment and cognitive pondering, while maintaining the core idea of experiencing awe or inquiry. First known uses appear in epic and religious texts where characters marvel at omens, miracles, or prodigies, gradually becoming a common everyday verb for curiosity and contemplation.
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Words that rhyme with "Wonder"
-der sounds
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