2 syllables: air, lift. Stress on air.
ER-lift
/ˈɛˌɹlɪft/
airlift is pronounced ER-lift (/ˈɛˌɹlɪft/). It has two syllables (air-lift), with the stress on "air". Airlift is the act of transporting people or cargo through the air, typically by aircraft, rather than by ground or sea. The term can also describe a rapid, organized evacuation or supply operation. It implies speed, coordination, and a non-vehicular transfer from one location to another via flight.
Airlift is the act of transporting people or cargo through the air, typically by aircraft, rather than by ground or sea. The term can also describe a rapid, organized evacuation or supply operation. It implies speed, coordination, and a non-vehicular transfer from one location to another via flight.
- You’ll often mispronounce airlift by flattening the first vowel into a flat /e/ or /æ/ sound; keep the /ɛə/ diphthong lively for accuracy. - The /rl/ sequence in many accents can blur; aim for a clean /r/ release into the /l/ and then /ɪft/. - Stress misplacement leads to AIR-lift or air-LIFT; keep primary stress on the first syllable. - In fast speech, you may drop the /t/ at the end; ensure final /ft/ is audible by gently releasing the /t/ and finishing with /f/.
"The mountain village received an emergency airlift of medical supplies after the flood."
"During the crisis, authorities organized an airlift to evacuate residents to safer areas."
"The hostage negotiation was complicated when the group attempted an airlift to slip away unseen."
Say AIR-lift with two syllables. The first syllable is stressed: /ˈɛər/ (US) or /ˈeə/ (UK/AU). The second is /lɪft/. Ensure the /r/ is pronounced in rhotic accents; in non-rhotic UK varieties, the /r/ is not pronounced unless followed by a vowel. IPA: US /ˈɛərˌlɪft/ or /ˈerˌlɪft/; UK/AU /ˈeəˌlɪft/.
Common errors: (1) Deleting the diphthong in the first syllable or reducing /ˈɛər/ to a plain /e/; (2) Slurring /r/ in non-rhotic accents, leading to /eə-lift/ instead of /ˈeəˈlɪft/; (3) Misplacing the stress as AIRlift or AiR-LIFT; keep primary stress on the first syllable and clear the /l/ onset of the second. Practice with careful articulation of /ˈ/ at the start and a crisp /lɪft/ ending.
US: rhotic with a pronounced /r/ after the vowel, /ˈɛərˌlɪft/. UK/AU: often non-rhotic to some degree; first syllable may be /ˈeə/ with weaker /r/; in accents like General American influenced UK speakers may still hear a subtle /r/. Overall, the main difference is the realization of the first syllable vowel and the presence or absence of postvocalic /r/.
The difficulty centers on the first syllable vowel cluster /ˈɛər/ that blends /ɛ/ and /ə/ into a diphthong, and the rapid transition into /lɪft/. In rapid speech, the /r/ in rhotic accents must be clearly released or whispered, and the /ɪ/ before /f/ should be light but evident to avoid blending into a schwa. The consonant cluster /rl/ can trap the tongue for non-native speakers. Mastery comes from practicing the two-syllable rhythm distinctly.
The word’s first syllable is a two-phoneme rhotic diphthong in many dialects: the tongue edges from a mid-front /ɛ/ toward a closer position with a lightly approximated /ɚ/ or /ə/ before the /l/. This subtle glide affects stress clarity and the crisp separation to /lɪft/. Paying attention to the subtle tongue retraction and lip rounding across the diphthong helps you land the word with solid two-syllable rhythm.
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- US: celebrate rhotic /r/; keep the /ɹ/ clear and slightly retroflex before /l/; diphthong /ɛə/ stays robust. - UK: non-rhotic tendency; the first syllable may sound like /eə/, with weaker r; ensure you still articulate the /l/ onset of /lɪft/. - AU: similar to UK but with a tighter vowel quality; keep the /ər/ or /ə/ glide light; maintain two-syllable rhythm.
Airlift combines air- (air) with lift (to raise or move something to a higher place). The word likely emerged in the 20th century, reflecting modern aviation’s capability to move people or cargo quickly. Its earliest uses appear in military and humanitarian contexts where aircraft are tasked with lifting loads or evacuating targets from danger. The trajectory of meaning follows the expansion of air power and civilian air freight in the interwar period and post-World War II era, when coordinated flights became a strategic tool for rapid deployment and relief. As aviation technology progressed, airlift shifted from a strictly military term to broader humanitarian and logistical applications, describing any operation that uses aircraft to move essential goods or people over a distance in a compressed timeframe. The concept is closely tied to the development of cargo planes, rotary-wing lift capabilities, and emergency response protocols, reinforcing the association of speed, efficiency, and critical need in the modern lexicon.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "airlift" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "airlift" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "airlift"
-ift sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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