How to pronounce smolder
Say it like SMOHL-der. Smolder has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SMOHL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce smolder. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SMOHL
- der
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Smolder pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SMOHLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- derKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of smolder
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: SMOHL-duh.
What does smolder mean?
- To burn slowly, giving off smoke but with little to no flame.“The remains of the bonfire were left to smolder for hours.”
- To show signs of repressed anger or suppressed mental turmoil or other strong emotion, such as passion.
- To exist in a suppressed or hidden state.
- The act of smoldering or something that smolders.
Where does smolder come from?
From Middle English smolderen (“to suffocate, stifle”), from Middle English smolder (“smoke, smoky vapor”), ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *smolōn (“to burn, glow, fume, smolder”).
Words that rhyme with smolder
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of smolder.
Questions about saying smolder
How do you pronounce smolder?
Say SMOHL-der. The American pronunciation is /ˈsmoʊldɚ/. In British English it is /ˈsməʊldə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in smolder?
Smolder has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SMOHL). Broken into parts: SMOHL · der.
Is smolder pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈsməʊldə/ (SMOHL-duh).