English Pronunciation Tip of the Day
Tip 27
Category: Word
Endings
Author: JCW
<-ard>
In a monosyllable, of course, the pronunciation is /A:d/ (bard, card, hard, lard, yard). Exceptions: /O:d/ in ward, sward. But at the end of longer well-known words, the pronunciation is usually /@d/ (custard, Edward, standard, wizard).
In less familiar words /A:d/ may be an alternative pronunciation, or sometimes the only one (bollard, mallard, mansard). This is probably because of the influence of the spelling.
<-ward>and <-wards> are regularly /w@d/, /w@dz/ (forward, inwards), except in toward and towards, which are stressed on the final syllable and where the vowel is /O:/.
<-yard> is /j@d/ in vineyard /"vInj@d/ but otherwise /jA:d/ (graveyard, stockyard).