Exhort is pronounced in two syllables: ig-ZORT. The stress falls on the second syllable: /ɪɡˈzɔːrt/ in American English and /ɪɡˈzɔːt/ in British English.
The word means “to urge” or “to advise earnestly.” In everyday language, it describes trying hard to persuade somebody to do something, and it is a formal synonym of urge.
Pronunciation of “exhort”
| Accent | IPA pronunciation | Simple pronunciation guide |
|---|---|---|
| British English | /ɪɡˈzɔːt/ | ig-ZORT |
| American English | /ɪɡˈzɔːrt/ | ig-ZORT |
The main difference between the two pronunciations is the final /r/. In the British pronunciation, the final r is not pronounced in this word. In the American pronunciation, the final r is pronounced.
The vowel in the stressed syllable may sound slightly different depending on the speaker’s accent, but the word has the same two-syllable rhythm in both varieties: ex-HORT.
How to pronounce the sounds
To pronounce exhort, say the word as two parts: ig + ZORT. The first syllable is unstressed, while the second syllable is longer, clearer, and stronger.
- /ɪ/ as in ship
- /ɡ/ as in give
- /z/ as in zoo
- /ɔː/ as in horse
- /r/ as in run, in the American pronunciation
- /t/ as in town
In British English, the pronunciation is /ɪɡˈzɔːt/: the word ends with the long vowel followed directly by /t/. In American English, it is /ɪɡˈzɔːrt/: the vowel is followed by the pronounced /r/ and then /t/.
Step-by-step pronunciation
1. Pronounce the first syllable
Begin with the short vowel /ɪ/, as in ship, and follow it with the hard /ɡ/ sound, as in give. This produces the first part, approximately ig.
2. Pronounce the beginning of the stressed syllable
The second syllable begins with the voiced /z/ sound, as in zoo. Do not pronounce this sound as /s/; the beginning of the second syllable is voiced.
3. Pronounce the main vowel
Continue with /ɔː/, the vowel heard in horse. This is the most prominent vowel in the word, so hold it slightly longer than the vowel in the first syllable.
4. Finish the word
In British English, finish with /t/. In American English, pronounce /r/ before the final /t/: /ɪɡˈzɔːrt/.
Word stress and rhythm
The correct stress pattern is ex-HORT, not EX-hort. The first syllable is short and weak, while the second syllable carries the primary stress.
When the word is used in a sentence, avoid giving equal emphasis to both syllables. Say the first part quickly and make the second part prominent: ig-ZORT.
Meaning and usage
Exhort is a formal verb meaning to try hard to persuade somebody to do something. Its synonym is urge.
The verb can be used with a person and an infinitive phrase: exhort somebody to do something. For example: “The party leader exhorted his members to start preparing for government.”
It can also be used with the expression exhort somebody to something: “They had been exhorted to action.”
Another possible structure is exhort somebody + speech: “‘Come on!’ he exhorted them. ‘Keep pushing!’”
Examples with “exhort”
- The party leader exhorted his members to start preparing for government.
- They had been exhorted to action.
- “Come on!” he exhorted them. “Keep pushing!”
Related forms
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Present simple: exhort | I, you, we, they exhort |
| Third-person singular: exhorts | He, she, it exhorts |
| Past simple: exhorted | They exhorted the players. |
| Past participle: exhorted | She had exhorted them. |
| -ing form: exhorting | He was exhorting the students. |
Exhorted
Exhorted is pronounced approximately ig-ZORT-id. To practise it, break it into three parts: ig + zawt + id.
The pronunciation tips for exhorted are the same: break down the word into its individual sounds, say the sounds out loud, and practise until you can produce them clearly.
Exhorting
Exhorting is pronounced /ɪɡˈzɔːrtɪŋ/ in the American pronunciation shown here and approximately ig-ZOR-ting. It means strongly encouraging someone to do something.
For example: “The teacher was exhorting the students to study hard for the exam.”
- exhorting people to act
- exhorting citizens to vote
- exhorting employees to improve
- exhorting leaders to unite
Word family
- Exhortation is a strong and encouraging statement to make someone do something.
- Exhort means to strongly encourage or urge someone to do something.
- Exhortative is an adjective used to describe something that tries to encourage someone to do something.
- Exhortingly means in a way that shows strong encouragement or urging.
“The teacher’s exhortation helped the students work harder.” The speech was exhortative and motivated everyone to help. She spoke exhortingly to persuade her friends to join the cause.
How to practise saying “exhort”
Break down the word exhort into its individual sounds “ig” + “zawt”. Say these sounds out loud, exaggerating them at first. Practice until you can consistently produce them clearly.
Record yourself saying exhort in sentences. Listen back to identify areas for improvement, focusing on clarity, word stress, and intonation.
Choose one accent, either US or UK, and stick to it for smoother learning. Mixing multiple accents can be confusing.
Immerse yourself in English by listening to audiobooks, podcasts, or movies with subtitles. Try shadowing-listen to a short sentence and repeat it immediately, mimicking the intonation and pronunciation.
Practise minimal pairs, which are words that differ by only one sound, such as ship and sheep, to improve your ability to distinguish between similar sounds.
Words with similar sounds
- exalt
- exhaust
- exult
- resort
- exist
- exert
- exact
- import
- exists
- ignores
Words that rhyme with “exhort”
- comport
- deport
- export
- tort
- contort
- extort
- thwart
- cavort
- quart
- resort
Origin and level
Exhort comes from Late Middle English, from Old French exhorter or Latin exhortari, from ex-, meaning “thoroughly,” and hortari, meaning “encourage.”
The word occurs in English on average 0.6 times per one million words. This frequency warrants it being in the study list for C2+ level of language mastery according to CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference.
