Americans refers to people from the United States, or to the nationality and culture associated with the United States. The term is used broadly in social, political, and cultural contexts and can denote identity, civic belonging, or demographic grouping. In pronunciation, the word is typically stressed on the second syllable: a-MER-i-cans.
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US: rhotic, clear /r/; /ˈmɛrɪkənz/ with strong /r/ and crisp /z/. UK: non-rhotic or less pronounced /r/; may yield /əˈmærɪkənz/ or /əˈmɛrɪkənz/, vowel height varies. AU: broad vowels in /æ/ and /ɜː/; possible /əˈmeɹɪkənz/ with rolled or tapped /r/. Vowel shifts: US /ɛ/ high-mid; UK /æ/ or /e/; AU /æ/ with longer diphthongs. Practice IPA awareness and mouth positions.
"Americans often have diverse regional accents."
"The Americans greeted us warmly at the border."
"Many Americans celebrate Thanksgiving with family gatherings."
"The Americans in this study spoke with a clear North American rhythm."
The word Americans derives from the proper noun America, used to designate the continents of the Americas. America itself comes from the Latin version of Amerigo Vespucci’s name, Americus, Latinized as America. The term was adopted into English in the 16th–18th centuries as a geographical designation for the New World, evolving to refer to the people associated with the United States specifically after the formation of the United States. Early usage often distinguished “American” as a citizen or native of the United States vs. other inhabitants of the American continents. In the 18th and 19th centuries, “American” became the standard demonym for residents of the United States, with plural “Americans” used to denote the people collectively. Over time, the word acquired political and cultural connotations tied to national identity, inclusivity of regional diversity, and debates over the scope of Americanness in global contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "americans" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "americans"
-ans sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /əˈmɛrɪkənz/. The stress is on the second syllable: a-MER-i-cans. Start with a weak schwa /ə/ in the first syllable, then the stressed /ˈmɛr/ as in 'merry' but with /r/ included. The final /z/ is voiced. A natural cadence has 3 syllables after the initial unstressed syllable: a-MER-i-cans. For audio reference, listen to native speech from Pronounce or Cambridge Dictionary clips and mimic the rhythm and intonation.
Common mistakes: (1) Misplacing stress on the first syllable instead of the second, leading to a-MER-ih-cans; (2) Omission or softening of the final /z/ as /s/ or /ɪz/; (3) Vowel quality in /ɛ/ vary by speaker, causing an /æ/ or /e/ sound. Correction tips: emphasize the /ˈmɛr/ syllable with a slightly tighter jaw and sharper /r/ contour; keep the final /z/ voiced and not devoiced; practice with minimal pairs: meridional vs. merican, to hear the contrast. Use slow repetition with recording to monitor stress and endings.
In US English, /əˈmɛrɪkənz/ with rhotic /r/ and clear /z/ ending. UK English tends to reduce the first syllable more and may stress slightly differently: /əˈmærɪkənz/ or /əˈmɛrɪkənz/ with a less prominent rhotic sound depending on speaker; Australian often features a broader /æ/ in the first vowel and a non-rhotic or semi-rhotic realization, sounding like /əˈmæɹɪkənz/ or /əˈmɜːɹɪkənz/ depending on speaker. Listen for the rhoticity, vowel height in /ɛ/ vs /æ/, and the final voiced /z/.
Difficulties arise from coordinating a multi-syllable rhythm and the central vowel in the first unstressed syllable with a stressed central consonant cluster in /ˈmɛrɪ/ and the voicing of the final /z/. The sequence a-MER-i-cans requires precise syllable-timed rhythm, distinct /r/ coloration, and a voiced final /z/ that can be elided in rapid speech. Learners must train the transition from weak to strong syllable and keep the final consonant voiced in natural speech.
Is the final 's' always pronounced in careful speech, or can it be devoiced as /s/? Answer: In careful, careful-enunciated speech, the final is typically /z/. In rapid speech or some dialects, it can be reduced subtly toward /s/ or even elide when ambiguous, but most standard pronunciation maintains the voiced /z/ in plural form.
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