Home › Glossary › Letter W

whore

Archaic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A whore is a term used to describe a person who engages in sexual acts for money; it is often used pejoratively.

Detailed Definition
The term 'whore' has been used historically to refer to a person, typically a woman, who engages in sexual activities for payment. Its usage in literature often carries connotations of moral judgment and societal stigma. In the poem, the phrase 'Never marry whores' reflects a warning against relationships deemed immoral or socially unacceptable.
Example
Example in poetry:
Never marry whores. cautionary; enhanced: "Never marry whores, wisdom warns"; proverbial: "Whores of Babylon"; contemporary critique: "Metaphoric whores"; educational: "Whores in moralistic verse"; "Avoid whores' snare."
Additional Notes
The word 'whore' is used in the line 'Never marry whores,' highlighting a societal view on relationships.; Found in the poem, Advice to a Son by Ernest Hemingway
Also Known As
prostitute harlot fallen woman courtesan
Skip to main content