What is market? Pronunciation and usage in English

market means . Learn how to pronounce and use market through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of market

marketnoun/verb

/ˈmɑːkɪt/
Definition & pronunciation of market

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "market" in English. There are actually two common pronunciations, and it depends on where you're from!

1. American English (Most Common):

  • Pronunciation: /ˈmɑːr.kɪt/ (rhymes with "car pit")
  • Breakdown:
    • “mar”: Sounds like the word "car". The 'a' is a short 'a' sound, like in "father".
    • “kit”: Sounds like the word “kit”. The ‘i’ is a short ‘i’ sound, like in “sit”.

2. British English:

  • Pronunciation: /ˈmɑːr.kɪt/ (often a slightly shorter “a” sound) - very similar to the American pronunciation.
  • Pronunciation: /ˈmɑːr.kɪt/ (with a more clipped, less drawn-out sound) - This is a more traditional British pronunciation.

Here's a quick way to think about it:

  • American: Think "car pit"
  • British: Think something a little shorter and more clipped.

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

  • Google Search: Search for "how to pronounce market" and you'll find audio examples from both American and British English speakers.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/market/ - A website with pronunciations by native speakers.
  • YouTube: Many YouTube videos demonstrate pronunciation. Search for “how to pronounce market”

To help me give you even more specific guidance, could you tell me:

  • Where are you from? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia, etc.) This will help me tailor the pronunciation to be most helpful for you.

Usage and examples with the word market in English

Let's break down how to use the word "market" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with several different meanings! Here's a breakdown categorized for clarity:

1. The Physical Marketplace (Where you buy and sell things)

  • Definition: A place, either indoor or outdoor, where people go to buy and sell goods and services.
  • Examples:
    • "We went to the farmers market to buy fresh produce."
    • "The stock market is volatile right now." (Referring to a place for trading stocks)
    • "She sells seashells by the seashore." (Classic example - a literal market)
    • "The antique market is held every weekend."

2. The Act of Buying and Selling (Being a marketplace)

  • Definition: The activity of buying and selling goods or services. It's about the process of trade.
  • Examples:
    • "The company is trying to market its new product." (Promote and sell)
    • "The market for electric vehicles is growing rapidly." (Refers to the demand and buying activity)
    • "He’s skilled at marketing himself.” (Promoting his own skills and abilities)

3. A Field of Study or Analysis (An area of interest)

  • Definition: A field of study or research, often focused on consumer behavior and trends.
  • Examples:
    • "Market research helps businesses understand their customers." (The study of the market)
    • "He's a leading expert in marketing and consumer psychology." (His area of expertise)
    • "The real estate market is showing signs of recovery." (Analyzing the property market)

4. A Group of Potential Customers (A target audience)

  • Definition: The group of people who are likely to be interested in a product or service.
  • Examples:
    • "Her marketing campaign targeted the teenage market." (Teenagers were the group she wanted to reach)
    • "We need to understand our market before launching the new app." (Identifying who would use the app)

5. A Term for a Specific Type of Product (Less Common)

  • Definition: (Rarely used) Refers to a specific type of product. Think of "fruit market" as a specialized place.
  • Example: “We have a specialty cheese market.”

Here’s a table summarizing the different uses:

Meaning Example Context
Physical Marketplace Farmers Market Buying and selling goods
Act of Buying/Selling Marketing a product Promoting and selling
Field of Study Market Research Analyzing consumer behavior
Target Audience Teenage Market Potential customers
Specific Product Type Fruit Market (Rare) A specialized shop

Tips for Using "Market" Correctly:

  • Context is key: Pay attention to how the word is used in the sentence to understand its meaning.
  • Synonyms: Consider synonyms like “trade,” “sales,” “demand,” “consumer,” and “commerce” to help you choose the right word.
  • "Marketing" vs "Market": "Marketing" is the activity of promoting and selling. "Market" is the place or system of buying and selling.

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What are you trying to use "market" in? (e.g., a sentence, an essay, a conversation?)
  • What is the context of the situation?

Synonyms for the word market

Idioms of the word market

a buyer’s market
a situation in which there is a lot of a particular item for sale, so that prices are low and people buying have a choice
  • In a buyer's market, the commodity is plentiful and so its price is not high.
in the market for something
interested in buying something
  • I'm not in the market for a new car at the moment.
on the market
available for people to buy
  • to put your house on the market
  • The house came on the market last year.
  • There are hundreds of different brands on the market.
on the open market
available to buy without any limits
    play the market
    to buy and sell stocks and shares in order to make a profit
    • He is a skilled investor who knows how to play the market—and win.
    price yourself/something out of the market
    to charge such a high price for your goods, services, etc. that nobody wants to buy them
    • Some leading UK firms are pricing themselves out of the market.
    a seller’s market
    a situation in which people selling something have an advantage, because there is not a lot of a particular item for sale, and prices can be kept high
    • In a seller’s market, demand exceeds supply, and prices are high.
    take something off the market/shelves
    to stop something from being sold
    • The slimming pills were taken off the market.
    • Thousands of egg products were taken off the shelves following the health scare.

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