What is post? Pronunciation and usage in English

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

Definition & pronunciation of post

postnoun/verb

/pəʊst/
Definition & pronunciation of post

The pronunciation of "post" in English can be a little tricky because it's often mispronounced! Here's a breakdown:

1. The Most Common (and Correct) Pronunciation:

  • ˈpəʊst (in British English - pronounced like "poast") - This is the traditional and technically correct pronunciation. It involves a soft "h" sound before the "o."
  • post (in American English - pronounced like "post") - This is the overwhelmingly dominant pronunciation in the US. It's a simple, short "o" sound.

2. Breakdown of Sounds:

  • ˈpōst (British):

    • ˈpō: Think of the "o" as a short, open "o" sound like in "hot" or "pot." It's not like the "o" in "go."
    • st: pronounced like the "st" in "stop."

  • post (American):

    • po: Pronounced like "poh" - a short, open "o" as in "hot."
    • st: as above – “st” as in stop.

3. Helpful Tips & Why it's Confusing:

  • The "h" sound: In British English, the presence of an initial "h" is what distinguishes the traditional pronunciation. It's subtle, but it's there.
  • Regional Variation: As noted, US English almost exclusively uses the "post" pronunciation.
  • Writing it out: Writing "po-st" can help you remember the vowel sound.

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

  • Google: Search for "how to pronounce post" on Google and you’ll find audio clips.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/post/ - A website with native speaker pronunciations.
  • YouTube: Search for “how to pronounce post” on YouTube.

To summarize, if you're speaking to someone from Britain, aim for the ‘poast’ pronunciation. If you're speaking to someone from the US, the short ‘post’ pronunciation is fine.

Do you want me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation slowly?
  • Give you an example sentence where "post" is used?

Usage and examples with the word post in English

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

1. To Stick Something Up (Physical)

  • Meaning: To attach something to a surface, usually with a pin, glue, or adhesive.
  • Examples:
    • "He posted a picture of his vacation on the refrigerator." (Attached a picture)
    • "She posted a sign on the door announcing the sale." (Attached a sign)
    • "I posted a note to the board, reminding everyone about the meeting." (Attached a note)

2. To Publish Online (Digital)

  • Meaning: To share something (a photo, video, comment, link, etc.) on a social media platform or website. This is extremely common usage today.
  • Examples:
    • "I love to post pictures of my dog on Instagram."
    • "He posted a thoughtful comment on the article."
    • "She posted a link to her new blog on Facebook."
    • "Don't post anything you wouldn't want your grandma to see!"
  • Related Terms:
    • Posting: The act of publishing. "He's a prolific poster."
    • Social Media Post: A specific post shared on a social media platform.

3. Military/Formal - To Station or Guard

  • Meaning: To assign someone to a specific duty or location, often for security.
  • Examples:
    • "The soldier was posted to the border." (Assigned to guard the border)
    • "She was posted to a research station in Antarctica." (Assigned to work there)

4. Postal Service (Related to Mail)

  • Meaning: Related to the postal service or delivering mail.
  • Examples:
    • "The mail carrier posted the letters in the mailbox." (Delivered the mail)
    • "The address must be clearly posted for delivery." (Displayed the address)

5. (Less Common) To Place or Put

  • Meaning: To put something in a specific location. This is less frequently used than the other meanings but still valid.
  • Examples:
    • "He posted the question to the group." (Meaning he placed the question there)
    • "The instructions were posted on the wall." (Meaning they were displayed on the wall)

Here’s a quick table to summarize:

Meaning Example
Stick Up “He posted a picture on the fridge.”
Publish Online “I posted a comment on Twitter.”
Military/Formal “She was posted to the base.”
Postal Service “The mail was posted.”

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

  • What context are you interested in using "post" in? (e.g., social media, a formal letter, military terminology?)

Synonyms for the word post

Practice with vocabulary post

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. After the board meeting, the secretary will _______ a summary of the decisions on the internal portal.
  2. All employees are required to _______ their time sheets by Friday afternoon, regardless of remote work status.
  3. The project manager emphasized the importance of securely _______ all sensitive data to comply with regulations.
  4. To _______ a robust defense, the legal team meticulously gathered evidence from various sources.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. Which word(s) can describe a job or a position of responsibility within an organization? A) employment B) post C) role D) department

  2. If you want to share an announcement or information publicly online, you might: A) post a message B) publish an article C) transmit a signal D) distribute a pamphlet

  3. To send an item through the official public mail service, you would typically: A) post it B) express ship it C) courier it D) email it

  4. Which word(s) best complete the sentence: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the conference organizers decided to _______ the keynote speech until the following day." A) postpone B) put off C) delay D) defer

  5. A formal document or graphic display used to provide information or warnings to a large audience is often called a: A) dispatch B) memo C) notice D) bulletin

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: They need to mail these urgent documents to the client by the end of the day. Rewrite:
  2. Original: The security personnel were ordered to stay at their assigned station throughout the night. Rewrite:
  3. Original: The company's official notice board usually displays important announcements regarding policy changes. Rewrite:

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. post
  2. post
  3. file
  4. establish

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. B) post, C) role
  2. A) post a message, B) publish an article
  3. A) post it
  4. A) postpone, B) put off, C) delay, D) defer
  5. C) notice, D) bulletin

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Rewrite: They need to post these urgent documents to the client by the end of the day.
  2. Rewrite: The security personnel were ordered to stay at their assigned post throughout the night.
  3. Rewrite: The company's official bulletin board usually displays important announcements regarding policy changes.

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