2 syllables: a, lerts. Stress on lerts.
uh-LURTS
/əˈlɝts/
alerts is pronounced uh-LURTS (/əˈlɝts/). It has two syllables (a-lerts), with the stress on "lerts". Alerts is a plural noun or verb form meaning warnings or notifications that call attention to a potential issue. As a noun, it designates signals intended to warn or inform; as a verb, it means to notify someone of a situation. The term is common in safety, security, and information systems contexts and often appears in professional, technical discourse.
Alerts is a plural noun or verb form meaning warnings or notifications that call attention to a potential issue. As a noun, it designates signals intended to warn or inform; as a verb, it means to notify someone of a situation. The term is common in safety, security, and information systems contexts and often appears in professional, technical discourse.
- You may flatten the second syllable’s vowel, saying a neutral /ə/ instead of /ɜː/. Correction: raise the tongue to produce /ɜː/ and keep the /r/ before the /t/. - Some speakers drop the /r/ in non-rhotic contexts; even if your dialect is non-rhotic, keep a subtle rhotic cue in careful speech to preserve the /r/ before t. Correction: visualize but avoid overemphasizing; let the /r/ blend with the following /t/. - Finally, you might cluster the ending as /t/ or /s/ separately; aim for a clean /t s/ release sequence, not a merged alveolar stop.
"- The system sends alerts when a sensor detects unusual activity."
"- Please alert the team if you notice any discrepancies."
"- Emergency alerts were issued to all residents in the area."
Pronounce as /əˈlɜːrts/ in US and UK accents. Put primary stress on the second syllable: a-LEARTS, with the 'er' reflecting a rhotacized vowel in many speakers. The initial schwa is light. Mouth position: relaxed lips, tongue mid-low for /ə/, then a raised mid-back vowel for /ɜː/ before /r/ in rhotic accents, and end with /ts/ as a crisp voiceless alveolar affricate. Listen to native audio for subtle timing.
Common errors include misplacing stress (pronouncing AL-erts with incorrect emphasis) and merging /r/ with the following consonant. Some speakers reduce /ɜː/ to a short /ɪ/ or omit the /r/ in non-rhotic accents. Correction: emphasize the second syllable with /ˈlɜːr/ in a rhotic flow, keep the /r/ audible before /ts/, and end with a clear /ts/ without voicing. Practice slow, then integrated speed.
In US and UK rhotic varieties, /ɜːr/ retains the /r/ sound, so /əˈlɜːrts/. In non-rhotic UK speech, the /r/ may be less pronounced or link to a preceding vowel, sounding closer to /əˈlɜːt(s)/. Australian English is rhotic but with a slightly flatter /ə/ and broader /ɜː/ among speakers; expect a smoother /ˈlɜːt/ cluster and final /s/ or /ts/ depending on speaker. All share primary stress on the second syllable.
The challenge lies in the two-consonant cluster at the end /-ts/, requiring crisp aspiration and precise tongue-tip contact for alveolar affrication. The mid-to-high back vowel /ɜː/ can be tricky, especially for speakers without rhoticity awareness. The shift from /ə/ to /ɜː/ requires careful jaw relaxation followed by a quick light /r/ and a tight /t-s/ release. Practicing with minimal pairs helps stabilize the rhythm.
A distinctive feature is the shifting vowel quality from the initial unstressed /ə/ to the stressed, rounded /ɜː/ of the second syllable, followed by a crisp /ts/. Some speakers may insert a small pause between /ɜːr/ and /ts/ due to tempo; aim for a smooth, quick transition with a single, clean /r/ and a firm /t/ release into /s/.
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- US: rhotic with clear /r/; emphasize /ɜːr/ as a unit and then the /ts/. - UK: possible non-rhotic influence; keep a light /r/ if present, but ensure the /t/ is crisp and not swallowed. - AU: rhotic and vowel-leaning; maintain the /ɜː/ quality with a relaxed jaw and slightly wider vowel space. IPA references: /əˈlɜːrts/ (US/UK), /əˈlɜːts/ (AU).
Alerts derives from the verb alert, which comes from the Old French alerter, from late Latin allertare, from ad- 'to' + late Latin allertare meaning ‘to arouse, awaken, alert’. The root sense is to wake someone up to danger or attention. The noun form began appearing in English around the 18th century as a term for warnings or signals designed to warn people. The sense expansion into digital and system notifications followed the rise of information technology and alerting systems in the 20th and 21st centuries, now commonly used in security, monitoring, and mobile communication to indicate urgent information requiring action.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "alerts" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "alerts"
-te) sounds
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