Learn How to Pronounce thorn
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How to pronounce:
thorn
Definition:
(nou) something that causes irritation and annoyance (nou) a small sharp-pointed tip resembling a spike on a stem or leaf (nou) a Germanic character of runic origin
Phonetic Transcription:
θɔːn
Examples:
It was a thorn in the flesh of the bourgeoisie.
The thorn often prickles dogs in the field.
He was very ruthless and a thorn in the side of the Guardians.
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Common mistakes of thorn pronunciation
- Confusing "thorn" with "torn": Many learners mix up "thorn" /θɔrn/ (US) and /θɔːn/ (UK) with "torn" /tɔrn/ (US) and /tɔːn/ (UK). Tip: Pay attention to the initial sound; "thorn" starts with "th" /θ/, while "torn" starts with "t" /t/.
- Mispronouncing the "th" sound: Some may pronounce "thorn" with a "t" sound, saying /tɔrn/ instead of /θɔrn/ (US) or /θɔːn/ (UK). Tip: Practice the "th" sound by placing your tongue between your teeth and blowing air.
- Skipping the "r" sound: Learners sometimes omit the "r" in "thorn," pronouncing it as /θɔːn/ (UK) or /θɔrn/ (US) without the clear "r" sound. Tip: Make sure to articulate the "r" clearly, as it is essential for correct pronunciation.
- Incorrect vowel length: Some might pronounce "thorn" with an overly long vowel sound, saying /θɔːrn/ (UK) instead of the correct /θɔrn/ (US). Tip: Focus on the vowel sound; it should be a short, rounded sound, not prolonged.
- Misplacing stress: Learners may incorrectly stress the second syllable, saying "thorn" as /θɔrn/ with secondary stress. Tip: Remember that "thorn" is a single-syllable word, so it should have only primary stress on the vowel sound.