2 syllables: air, lines. Stress on air.
ER-leyenz
/ˈɛˌɹlaɪnz/
airlines is pronounced ER-leyenz (/ˈɛˌɹlaɪnz/). It has two syllables (air-lines), with the stress on "air". Airlines refers to commercial flight carriers and the industry that operates passenger or cargo flights. The word combines air with lines, signaling routes or networks of air travel. In usage, it often appears in contexts about schedules, safety, pricing, and travel planning. (2-4 sentences, ~60 words).
Airlines refers to commercial flight carriers and the industry that operates passenger or cargo flights. The word combines air with lines, signaling routes or networks of air travel. In usage, it often appears in contexts about schedules, safety, pricing, and travel planning. (2-4 sentences, ~60 words)
"The airlines announced a new schedule for the winter season."
"Budget airlines often offer lower fares but fewer onboard amenities."
"Airlines worldwide are adapting to fluctuating fuel costs and demand."
AIR-lines is two syllables with primary stress on the first: /ˈɛrˌlaɪnz/ in US and UK transcription, and /ˈeəˌlaɪnz/ for some UK varieties. Start with the vowel cluster in 'air' as /ɛr/ (US) or /eə/ (UK/AU), then glide into /laɪnz/ for ‘lines.’ Keep the /l/ clear, the /aɪ/ diphthong steady, and end with a voiced /z/ sound. Audio resources like Pronounce or Forvo can provide native examples.
Common errors: 1) Flattening the /ɛr/ to a flat /eː/ or something like /eɪ/; 2) Slurring the /r/ in American speakers, making /ˈeɪlaɪnz/ instead of /ˈɜrlaɪnz/; 3) Dropping the final /z/ or confusing it with /s/. Correction: pronounce the first syllable with a distinct /r/ or /ɹ/ following the vowel, maintain the /laɪ/ glide, and end with a clear /nz/ or /n z/ cluster. Use minimal pairs to practice: air vs. a, lines vs lion.”
In US English, /ˈɛɚˌlaɪnz/ or /ˈerˌlaɪnz/ with rhotic /ɹ/; UK often uses /ˈeəˌlaɪnz/ with less rhoticity and a broader /eə/ vowel; Australian tends to /ˈeəˌlaɪnz/ with a flatter /ɪə/ or /eə/ in the first syllable and clear /laɪnz/. The main variation is the vowel in the first syllable (air) and rhoticity. All share two syllables and final /nz/ or /nz/.
The challenge lies in the diphthong in the first syllable and the following liquid /l/ plus the final voiced nasal-consonant cluster /nz/. US speakers often risk a reduced /ɹ/; UK/AU speakers may have a longer glide in /eə/. Practice balancing the air stream through the /ɹ/ or /ɹ/ with the start of /l/ and the /aɪ/ glide, then a crisp /nz/. Segmenting and slowing down helps avoid merging the two syllables.”
No silent letters in standard pronunciation. All letters contribute to syllabic structure: /ˈɜr/ or /ˈeə/ for air, /laɪnz/ for lines. The /r/ is pronounced in rhotic accents (US), and the final /z/ is voiced. In careful speech you’ll hear a full /ɹ/ or /ɻ/ before /l/; in fast speech it may be slightly reduced but not silent.
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The word airline originates from the combination of air, referring to the atmosphere through which aircraft travel, and line, indicating a route or network. Early usage in the 20th century described companies or routes; the term solidified as aviation developed into a regulated industry. The concept of an ‘air line’ captured the idea of a fixed path for aircraft, much like a railway line for trains. Over time, “airline” became a standard noun for organizations offering scheduled air transport, and the plural form “airlines” denotes multiple carriers or networks. First known uses appear in mid-1900s aviation literature as commercial air travel expanded beyond experimental flights to regular passenger service. The suffix -line in English often marks a path or service (e.g., mainline, airline), and its metaphorical extension into aviation reflects the era’s shift toward networked, time-dependent transportation. Today, airlines are global entities subject to international regulation, codeshare agreements, and market competition, all embedded in the modern travel economy.
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Words that rhyme with "airlines"
-ers sounds
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