Basic Details
Word: Shoemaker
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A person whose job is to make or repair shoes.
Synonyms: cobbler
How to Spell Shoemaker
Syllables: shoe - mak - er
Tricky part: Shoe keeps its e, and make loses its e before -er, so only one e comes between k and r.
Watch out for: shoemakker, shoomaker, shoemakar, shoemeker
Memory tip: It is a maker of shoes: shoe + maker. Shoe holds on to its e; make lets go of its e when -er comes.
Idioms and Phrases
- the shoemaker's children go barefoot: people with a skill often do not use it for their own families Example: "Our uncle is a painter but his own house needs paint; the shoemaker's children go barefoot."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The shoemaker near the bus stand has worked under the same neem tree for thirty years.
Example 2: In the fairy tale, elves helped a poor shoemaker at night.
Example 3: A good shoemaker measures both feet, because they are rarely the same size.
Fun Fact
An old English word for a shoemaker is cordwainer. It comes from Cordoba, the Spanish city once famous for fine leather.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Makeup
Choose the correctly spelt compound word:
a) shoemaker
b) toymakar
c) watchmakker
d) dresmaker
Show answer
a) shoemaker. Maker keeps one k and ends in er, and dressmaker needs two s's; only shoemaker is right.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word shoemaker as used in the sentence:
The old shoemaker in Chandni Chowk stitched a new sole onto my sandal while I waited.
a) weaver
b) tailor
c) potter
d) cobbler
Show answer
d) cobbler. A cobbler mends shoes; the others work with cloth or clay.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
The ekomaresh worked late to finish the leather boots for the wedding.
a) moneymaker
b) shopkeeper
c) homemaker
d) shoemaker
Show answer
d) shoemaker. The letters include an s and only one m, so homemaker is out; moneymaker and shopkeeper need letters that are missing.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A shoemaker would need ____.
a) paint, brushes and a canvas
b) flour, sugar and an oven
c) leather, thread and a strong needle
d) bricks, cement and a trowel
Show answer
c) leather, thread and a strong needle
2. Where would you take shoes with a broken heel?
a) to a baker
b) to a shoemaker
c) to a barber
d) to a jeweller
Show answer
b) to a shoemaker
