2 syllables: zo, har. Stress on zo.
ZOH-hahr
/ˈzoʊˌhɑɹ/
zohar is pronounced ZOH-hahr (/ˈzoʊˌhɑɹ/). It has two syllables (zo-har), with the stress on "zo". Zohar refers to a foundational body of Jewish mystical literature from the 13th century, attributed to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, though likely compiled by later authors. In broader use, it can denote a radiant or luminous person or thing. The term is most often encountered in scholarly or religious contexts, and may appear in discussions of Kabbalah, mysticism, or Sephardic Jewish thought. The word blends Hebrew roots meaning “splendor” or “radiance.”.
Zohar refers to a foundational body of Jewish mystical literature from the 13th century, attributed to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, though likely compiled by later authors. In broader use, it can denote a radiant or luminous person or thing. The term is most often encountered in scholarly or religious contexts, and may appear in discussions of Kabbalah, mysticism, or Sephardic Jewish thought. The word blends Hebrew roots meaning “splendor” or “radiance.”
"The Zohar is studied by scholars of Kabbalah seeking deeper metaphysical insights."
"She quoted a passage from the Zohar to illustrate the luminous nature of divine emanations."
"During the seminar, the lecturer referenced Zoharic teachings on the sefirot."
Pronounce it as zo-HAR, with two syllables. IPA US: /ˈzoʊ.hɑːr/, UK/AU: /ˈzəʊ.hɑː/. Start with the long O as in 'go' and finish with a broad 'ah' as in 'spa', then a final 'r' that’s lightly pronounced in rhotic varieties. The primary stress is on the first syllable: ZOH-ar.
Common errors include misplacing stress (shifting to zo-HAR in some accents), shortening the second syllable to a schwa or silent vowel, and mispronouncing the initial vowel as a short 'o' instead of a long 'o' as in 'go'. Correct by emphasizing first syllable with a clean long 'o' and clearly articulating the final 'ar' as /ɑːr/ in non-silent form.
US tends to use /ˈzoʊ.hɑːr/ with a strong diphthong in the first syllable and a trailing /r/. UK/AU favor /ˈzəʊ.hɑː/ with a shorter starting vowel quality and non-rhotic tendencies; some speakers may reduce the final /r/ or pronounce it lightly. In rhotic US, you’ll clearly hear /r/; in non-rhotic varieties, the final /r/ may be weaker or dropped.
The difficulty lies in preserving two distinct syllables with accurate vowel quality: a long 'o' sound followed by an open 'ah' and a trailing /r/. The first syllable carries primary stress, and listeners expect the Hebrew-derived rhythm rather than an English closed-syllable pattern. Managing the final /r/ with varying rhoticity across accents adds another layer of challenge.
Is the final vowel length essential, or can it be shortened in casual speech? In careful speech, keep /ɑːr/ for the final syllable to preserve the two-syllable structure and ensure the /r/ is audible in rhotic accents, while in non-rhotic varieties, a lightly pronounced or silent final /r/ is acceptable depending on the speaker’s preference and formality.
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US: rhotic pronunciation with a clear final /r/, emphasize /zoʊ/ diphthong and final /ˈhɑːr/. UK/AU: often non-rhotic or lightly rhotic; the first syllable may have a shorter /əʊ/ quality and the final /r/ may be less pronounced. IPA references: US /ˈzoʊ.hɑːr/; UK/AU /ˈzəʊ.hɑː/ (r-coloring varies). Vowel length differences: US tends to hold /aː/ longer; UK/AU may have a shorter /ɑː/ due to non-rhotic tendencies. Consonant: final /r/ in US is more pronounced; in UK/AU it can be weaker or suppressed in non-rhotic speech.
Zohar is a loanword from Hebrew זֹהַר (zohar), meaning “splendor,” “radiance,” or “light.” The term appears in rabbinic literature as a metaphor for divine illumination and spiritual revelation. The modern Zohar, a foundational work of Kabbalah, is traditionally attributed to Shimon bar Yochai, a 2nd-century sage, but scholarly consensus holds that the work was compiled in the 13th century by Moses de León in Spain, drawing on earlier Jewish mystic traditions. The word’s sense shifted from a general metaphor for radiant knowledge to denote a specific corpus of enigmatic, esoteric commentary on the Torah. Over centuries, “Zohar” became a proper noun associated with mystical interpretation, often invoking concepts such as sefirot (emanations) and the hidden dimensions of divine reality. First known appearances as a named text often surface in medieval and early modern Jewish scholarly circles, with widespread influence in Sephardic and later Ashkenazi mystical study. Its enduring resonance lies in presenting complex spiritual ideas through symbolic imagery, parables, and poetic Aramaic-Hebrew language.
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Words that rhyme with "zohar"
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