Proper Pronunciation Guide

amateur

[æ mə ʧɚ]

Tips:

  • Pronounce the initial letter “a” as the short vowel
    /æ/ and stress it.
  • Pronounce the second letter “a” as the weak schwa vowel
    /ə/.
  • Pronounce the letter “t” as
    /ʧ/.
  • Pronounce the final letters “eur” as the unstressed R-Vowel
    /ɚ/ .

Practice Sentences:

 He is an amateur painter.
He was in an amateur theatre production.
Rock climbing on these cliffs is not for amateurs.

Definitions:

  • (adjective) A beginner’s level of expertise; not professional.

  • (noun) A person who does something for the love of doing it and for the pleasure it gives rather than for monetary gain.

Notes:

Some amateurs are very serious about their endeavor and over time attain a high level of expertise but are still considered to be amateurs and not professionals because they don’t earn their living from doing it.

  • Past Week’s Words

    Pronunciation Key for phonetic symbols

    sign up for Spoken Word Power which will have all the Words of the Day since 2004.

    Private Instruction from Brian