WUR-klohd
/ˈwɝˌkloʊd/
workload is pronounced WUR-klohd (/ˈwɝˌkloʊd/). Workload refers to the amount of work assigned or expected from a person or group within a given period, often measured as tasks, duties, or hours. It can also indicate the capacity required to complete those tasks. The term blends “work” and “load” to describe the overall burden or demand placed on someone, typically in occupational or project contexts.
Workload refers to the amount of work assigned or expected from a person or group within a given period, often measured as tasks, duties, or hours. It can also indicate the capacity required to complete those tasks. The term blends “work” and “load” to describe the overall burden or demand placed on someone, typically in occupational or project contexts.
"The new manager reduced the workload to prevent burnout."
"Employees reported an increasing workload after the software rollout."
"We need to reassess the workload distribution across the team."
Pronounce as /ˈwɜːrkˌloʊd/ (US) or /ˈwɜːkˌləʊd/ (UK/AU). The primary stress is on WORK, with a secondary stress on LOAD. Start with the “wer” sound as in ‘were’ but with a slightly rounded vowel in American speech; then transition to a clear “load” with the /loʊd/ vowel as in ‘owed.’ Tip: blend the two syllables smoothly without an extra consonant between them. IPA cues: US /ˈwɜːrkˌloʊd/, UK/AU /ˈwɜːkˌləʊd/. Audio reference: you can hear samples on Pronounce or Forvo by searching “workload.”
Common errors: 1) Overemphasizing the second syllable load or making it sound like ‘lowed’ by shifting vowel quality; 2) Slurring the /rk/ cluster: avoid a harsh break between /wɜːr/ and /k/—let /rk/ flow into /loʊd/; 3) Misplacing secondary stress in rapid speech, sometimes producing /ˈwɜːrkləʊd/ with reduced clarity. Correction tips: keep the /r/ lightly voiced and avoid turning /rk/ into /r/ plus a separate vowel; ensure the /l/ in load is clear and not swallowed. Practice with minimal pairs: work-load vs. work lowed (as in emotional load) to feel the boundary.
In US English, workload uses a clear rhotic /r/ and a tense /oʊ/ in load, with a light linking to the second syllable. In UK and AU accents, the /r/ is non-rhotic; the second syllable often has a schwa-like reduction leading to /ˈwɜːk.ləʊd/ with a more centralized or reduced second vowel. Australians may exhibit slightly broader vowels in /ɜː/ and /əʊ/ depending on region, with a smoother liaison between syllables in connected speech. Overall, primary stress remains on WORK, but the exact vowel quality and linking can vary, influencing perceived rhythm.
The challenge lies in the /rk/ cluster followed by a strong vowel in load, which creates a subtle transition from a tight, compact onset to a rounded, diphthongal nucleus. The sequence /rkl/ can feel abrupt if the tongue doesn’t glide from /k/ into /l/, and non-rhotic accents may reduce the overt /r/ quality, altering the perceived stress. Additionally, the diphthong in load (/loʊd/ or /ləʊd/) requires precise jaw and lip shaping to avoid a flat vowel. Practicing smooth consonant-vowel transitions helps mitigate these difficulties.
The unique aspect is the stress placement and the glide from the /rk/ cluster into the /l/ of load. You want a quick but smooth release: keep the vocal tract compact for /rk/ and then open into the rounded mouth position for /loʊd/. Pay attention to the slight schwa-like quality some speakers use in the second syllable in rapid speech, especially in non-rhotic varieties. Focus on cleanly merging /rk/ into /l/ without inserting a vowel between them.
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The word workload is a compound of work + load. The concept of ‘load’ in this sense derives from Old English geladen or Germanic roots meaning burden or cargo, while ‘work’ traces back to Old English geweorc with Germanic origins in the sense of labor or employment. The modern sense—amount of work or tasks to be completed—emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries with the rise of organized labor, industrial productivity, and managerial planning. The term gained traction in business, engineering, and managerial literature as a concise label for the volume of tasks assigned to an individual or team, often used to discuss productivity, efficiency, and worker welfare. First known uses align with industrial and organizational contexts, where workload was used to quantify the demands on labor resources, and subsequently spread into IT and project management to describe task queue lengths and capacity planning.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "workload" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "workload"
-oad sounds
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