Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

rudder

/ˈɹʌdɚ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.20 in modern English

Syllables
rudd-er
IPA
/ˈɹʌdɚ/
8
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An underwater vane used to steer a vessel. The rudder is controlled by means of a wheel, tiller or other apparatus (modern vessels can be controlled even with a joystick or an autopilot).

noun

A control surface on the vertical stabilizer of a fixed-wing aircraft or an autogyro. On some craft, the entire vertical stabilizer comprises the rudder. The rudder is controlled by foot-operated control pedals.

noun

A riddle or sieve.

noun

That which resembles a rudder as a guide or governor; that which guides or governs the course.

noun

The tail of an otter.

Example Sentences

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁reh₁- Proto-Indo-European *h₁roh₁-(ye-)-tider. Proto-Germanic *rōaną Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-trom Proto-Germanic *-þrą Proto-Germanic *rōþrą Proto-West Germanic *rōþr Old English rōþor Middle English rother English rudder From Middle English rodder, rother, ruder, from Old English rōþor (“oar, rudder”), from Proto-West Germanic *rōþr, from Proto-Germanic *rōþrą (“oar, rudder”) (compare Dutch and West Frisian roer, German Ruder), from Proto-Germanic *rōaną, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁reh₁- (“to row”) + Proto-Germanic *-þrą, *-þraz, instrumental suffix. Akin to Old English rōwan (“to row”). More at rōwan, -þor.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: rodder, rōþor, *rōþr, *rōþrą, *h₁reh₁-, *-þrą

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈɹʌdɚ/
  • British English: /ˈɹʌdəː/

Inflected Forms

rudders (plural)

Derived Forms

ruddered rudderfish rudderhead rudderhole rudderless rudderlike rudderon rudderpost rudderstock ruddervator

Phrases

balance rudder bow rudder drop rudder Dutch rudder rudder authority rudder blade rudder chain rudder coat

Frequently Paired Words

tiller

Rhymes With

shudder scudder stouder udder mudder judder budder flooder pudder dudder disbudder

Questions

How do you pronounce rudder?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɹʌdɚ/.
What does rudder mean?
An underwater vane used to steer a vessel. The rudder is controlled by means of a wheel, tiller or other apparatus (modern vessels can be controlled even with a joystick or an autopilot).
Where does rudder come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce rudder

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “rudder”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɹʌdɚ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “rudder”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “rudder” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.