YIR-buuk
/ˈjɪˌɹbʊk/
yearbook is pronounced YIR-buuk (/ˈjɪˌɹbʊk/). A yearbook is a bound collection published annually that commemorates a school’s or organization’s activities, people, and events through photographs and written records. It serves as a historical keepsake and community record, typically produced by students or staff. The term combines the sense of years with a commemorative book, often distributed at or near graduation.
A yearbook is a bound collection published annually that commemorates a school’s or organization’s activities, people, and events through photographs and written records. It serves as a historical keepsake and community record, typically produced by students or staff. The term combines the sense of years with a commemorative book, often distributed at or near graduation.
"The high school yearbook includes senior portraits and club photos."
"We ordered a yearbook to remember our final year together."
"The yearbook committee is meeting after school to plan the layout."
Pronounce it as two syllables: /ˈjɪərˌbʊk/. The first syllable rhymes with “ear” and uses a stressed long /ɪə/ diphthong, followed by a clear /r/ in US speech; the second syllable is a short, rounded /bʊk/ with the /k/ release. Place stress on the first syllable; the 'year' contains a diphthong that slides from /ɪə/ toward /ɪr/ in some American accents. Mouth: start with a relaxed jaw, tip of tongue near the alveolar ridge for /j/, then move to rhot-anchored /ɪə/ or /ɪəɹ/ depending on accent, finish with rounded /u/ in /-bʊk/ and a crisp /k/ consonant.
Common mistakes: merging into /ˈjɪɹˌbuk/ with a vowel reduction, or pronouncing /ˈjɪər/ as a pure /ɪr/ without the glide. Another frequent error is a softened /b/ or an overextended /k/. Corrections: ensure the first syllable keeps the /ɪə/ or /ɪər/ glide, maintain /b/ as a true stop without voicing into the vowel, and finish with a clean /k/ without adding an extra vowel after it. Practice by isolating /ˈjɪə/ then adding /rbʊk/ in sequence, checking the transition between /ɪə/ and /r/ if your accent inserts an /r/ colouring inside the diphthong.
In General American, /ˈjɪərˌbʊk/ features a rhotic /r/ in the first syllable and a stressed first syllable. In most UK varieties, the /r/ is non-rhotic after vowels, giving /ˈjɪəˌbʊk/ with a clearer diphthong in the first syllable and less rhotic coloring. Australian English tends to be rhotic but softer with a more centralized /ɜː/ in some speakers; expect /ˈjɪəˌbʊk/ or /ˈjɪəˌbʊk/ with minor vowel adjustments. Vowel quality shifts are subtle but audible in the second syllable, where /ʊ/ may drift toward a near-close near-back vowel depending on the speaker. IPA references should be consulted for precise regional realizations.
Three key challenges: the two-consonant cluster at the boundary between /ɪə/ and /r/ in some dialects, the rhotic vs non-rhotic realization of the /r/ sound, and the final /k/ release after a rounded vowel. The diphthong in /ɪə/ can be tricky for non-native speakers or speakers of languages without similar sounds, and the /r/ may feel unclear when the language doesn’t normally pronounce a post-vocalic /r/. Focus on maintaining a clean syllable boundary: /ˈjɪə/ followed by /rbʊk/ or /əˈbʊk/ depending on dialect. This ensures natural rhythm and prevents slurring.
Tiny nuance: in careful speech, pause between syllables to avoid turning /ˈjɪər/ into a monosyllable. The question tests: do you pronounce the /r/ clearly in the first syllable? If you’re US-centered, you’ll likely articulate /r/; in UK variants, you may have weaker or non-rhotic /r/; practice saying /ˈjɪə/ with a slight, non-prevocalic /r/ and then /bʊk/.
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The term yearbook derives from the practice of compiling annual references or calendars into a single book. The word combines year, from the Old English gear, meaning a 12-month period, with book, from the Old English bôc, a written work. Historically, yearbooks began as simple annual calendars or registries; over time, they evolved into comprehensive school publications containing photographs, student rosters, and literary sections. The modern sense—an annual bound volume that captures a year’s memories—emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries as schools standardized year-end documentation. First known usage in English is tied to school publications in the 1800s, and the compound form became common by the early 20th century, spread largely through American educational institutions and then internationally. The concept also exists in corporate or organizational contexts, where an annual yearbook-like volume records achievements, milestones, and member lists. The evolution reflects broader changes in media, literacy, and the social value placed on preserving collective memories of a cohort at a defined point in time.
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Words that rhyme with "yearbook"
-ook sounds
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