What is seldom? Pronunciation and usage in English

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

Definition & pronunciation of seldom

seldomadverb

/ˈseldəm//ˈseldəm/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "seldom" in English. It's a tricky one because it’s a less common word. Here's a breakdown with audio cues if possible:

1. The Basic Sound:

  • "sel": This part sounds like “sell” – as in, “I want to sell this car.” The emphasis is on the “sell” sound.
  • "dom": This is the tricky part. It’s not pronounced like "dom" as in "dominate." Instead, it sounds like “dum” – like the word "dumb."

2. Combining the Sounds:

Putting it together, you get "sell-dum". It's almost like a quick, linked pronunciation.

3. Emphasis:

The primary emphasis is on the "sell" part.

4. IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) – for precision:

  • /sɛlˈdɒm/ (This is the phonetic transcription)

    • sɛl: as in “sell”
    • ˈdɒm: the ‘ˈ’ indicates primary stress, and ‘dɒm’ rhymes with “dom” (as in “dumb”)

Here’s how it sounds (using Google Translate as a quick reference – it’s not perfect, but it's a decent guide):

https://translate.google.com/?sl=en&tl=en&text=seldom&op=translate

Tips for Getting it Right:

  • Don’t over-emphasize the “dom” sound. It's a short, quick “dum.”
  • Practice slowly at first. Break it down into “sell” and “dum” and then try to link them smoothly.
  • Listen to native speakers. Search for “how to pronounce seldom” on YouTube to hear it pronounced correctly by English speakers.

Would you like me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation slowly?
  • Give you an example sentence using the word “seldom”?

Usage and examples with the word seldom in English

Let's break down how to use the word "seldom" in English. It's a slightly more formal and literary word than "rarely," and it carries a specific nuance.

1. Meaning:

"Seldom" means not often; rarely. It emphasizes a lack of frequency, but with a slightly stronger sense of habitually being infrequent. It suggests something happens infrequently as a general rule, rather than just once or twice.

2. How to Use It:

  • Structure: "Seldom" is always followed by an adverb or adjective.

    • "He seldom smiles." (Adverb)
    • "She has a seldom successful project." (Adjective)

  • Synonyms: While "rarely" is a close synonym, “seldom” often implies a more ingrained or habitual lack of something. Think of "rarely" as simply meaning "not often," while "seldom" suggests it’s part of the usual pattern.

3. Examples in Sentences:

  • "I seldom go to the movies anymore." (Regularly don't)
  • "He seldom speaks of his past." (Habitually avoids talking about it)
  • "The shop seldom has any stock left." (Constantly runs out of items)
  • "She seldom complains, even when things are difficult." (It’s not typical for her to complain)
  • “The rain seldom falls in the summer.” (It’s unusual for it to rain that season)

4. Key Differences from "Rarely":

Feature Rarely Seldom
Emphasis Not often Habitually not often
Formality More common More formal/literary
Nuance General infrequent occurrence Suggests a deeply ingrained pattern

5. When to Choose "Seldom" vs. "Rarely":

  • Use "rarely" when you just want to say something doesn’t happen often. It’s perfectly suitable for most everyday situations.

  • Use “seldom” when you want to convey a stronger sense of habit, consistency, or a deeply established lack of something. It's often found in more descriptive writing, literature, or formal speech. It adds a touch of elegance.

Example illustrating the difference:

  • "I rarely eat fast food." (Just means you don't usually eat it.)
  • "He seldom eats fast food." (Suggests he almost never eats it; it's a significant part of his dietary habits.)

Resources for Further Study:

Do you want me to:

  • Give you more examples?
  • Compare it to another word (like “infrequently”)?
  • Help you practice using it in a sentence?

Synonyms for the word seldom

Practice with vocabulary seldom

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. Many advanced scientific breakthroughs occur, but truly paradigm-shifting discoveries are ______ observed in a single decade.
  2. The project team needs to provide updates ______ Friday, ensuring all stakeholders are kept informed of progress.
  3. Due to the complex nature of the system, critical errors ______ manifest without prior warning signs.
  4. Employees are advised to ______ consult the company's official policy document for detailed guidelines on expense claims.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (there may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. Which of the following words or phrases best describes an event that happens very infrequently? a) Often b) Frequently c) Seldom d) Rarely e) Usually

  2. Feedback from clients regarding the initial product launch was overwhelmingly positive, and negative comments were ______. a) frequent b) common c) seldom d) abundant

  3. Opportunities for cross-departmental collaboration, while highly beneficial, ______ present themselves without proactive effort. a) always b) seldom c) frequently d) often

  4. To ensure data integrity, system backups are performed ______ on a weekly basis, sometimes more often if critical updates are deployed. a) always b) seldom c) at least d) never

  5. The success of the new marketing campaign hinges ______ its ability to reach the target demographic effectively. a) on b) at c) in d) with

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. It is not common for senior management to intervene directly in day-to-day operational issues. (Begin with "Senior management...")
  2. On very few occasions do we receive complaints about the quality of our premium service. (Begin with "We...")
  3. The team almost never misses a deadline, demonstrating their exceptional commitment. (Do NOT use "seldom" or "almost never")

Answer:

Exercise 1:

  1. seldom
  2. every (or each)
  3. seldom
  4. always (or regularly, frequently)

Exercise 2:

  1. c) Seldom, d) Rarely
  2. c) seldom
  3. b) seldom
  4. c) at least
  5. a) on

Exercise 3:

  1. Senior management seldom intervenes directly in day-to-day operational issues.
  2. We seldom receive complaints about the quality of our premium service.
  3. The team hardly ever misses a deadline, demonstrating their exceptional commitment. (Other possible answers: The team rarely misses a deadline, The team infrequently misses a deadline)

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