Articles refers to short, usually definite or indefinite determiner words used before a noun (such as a, an, the) and also to items published in a magazine or journal. In linguistics, articles are a small closed class that mark definiteness, specificity, or reference. In publishing, the term denotes individual items within a collection. Depending on context, “articles” may function as a plural noun meaning individual writings or as the plural of the linguistic determiner “article.”
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"- The articles you found on the topic are all credible and well-cited."
"- She read several articles about climate policy."
"- The definite article in English is the word ‘the’."
"- Journal articles often include abstracts and references."
The word articles comes from the Latin articulus, meaning ‘joint’ or ‘section’, a diminutive of articulus meaning a small part or apart. In Latin, articulus functioned as a diminutive form of articulus, signaling division or a part of a whole. The term evolved into Medieval Latin as articulus and then into Old French article, with the plural form articles evolving in English by adding the standard -s plural suffix. Historically, English use of article(s) reflects a broad shift from explicit demonstratives and case endings to a fixed set of determiners. The definite article the developed from the demonstrative pronoun ‘this’ and the possibly related form ‘the’ in Old English, while the indefinite articles a and an derive from the numeral ‘one’ via the Latin una, with English usage solidifying by the 15th century. The plural noun sense “articles” (as publications) traces to Latin articulus meaning ‘a part or clause of a document’ and later to French article, adopted into English in the 14th–15th centuries, representing individual items in a collection or body of writing. In modern usage, “articles” spans grammatical function (plural of article) and bibliographic meaning (journal articles), with the context clearly disambiguating meaning.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "articles" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "articles" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "articles"
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Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ˈɑːrtɪkəlz/ in US and UK English, with primary stress on the first syllable: AR-ti-kuls. Start with an open back unrounded [ɑː], then a light /t/ followed by a schwa or reduced /ɪ/ in the second syllable, a clear /k/, then a schwa-like /ə/ before the final /l/ plus plural voice: /z/ in many dialects. In fast speech, the second syllable may reduce to a quick /tɪk/ and the final /z/ may be devoiced to /s/, depending on context.
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying ar-TI-cles), mispronouncing the /t/ as a flap or d, and producing an incorrect final sound (ending with /s/ instead of /z/ or omitting the final consonant). To correct: keep primary stress on the first syllable; articulate a crisp /t/ followed by a clear /ɪ/ or reduced vowel; ensure the final voiced /z/ is present when the next word starts with a vowel or a vowel-like boundary, and use voicing in line with adjacent sounds.
In US English, you typically hear /ˈɑːrtɪkəlz/ with rhotic r and a clear /z/ at the end. UK typically /ˈɑːtɪkəlz/ with non-rhotic r in some dialects and a slightly shorter /ɑː/ vowel in non-rhotic speakers; AU tends toward /ˈɑːtɪkəlz/ but with a more centralized second vowel in some speakers. The final /z/ may sound more like /s/ in certain Australian or rapid speech. Overall, rhoticity and vowel quality differ, but the core sounds /ˈɑː/ /t/ /ɪ/ /k/ /əl/ /z/ remain consistent.
The difficulty comes from coordinating a clipped /t/ between a stressed initial syllable and a subsequent unstressed syllable, plus producing a final voiced /z/ after a short /əl/. The schwa-like vowel in the middle and potential assimilation before the final consonant can trip non-native speakers. Additionally, when followed by a vowel-initial word, speakers may link or elide sounds, affecting pronunciation. Mastery involves precise consonant timing, clear vowel shifts, and consistent voicing of the final /z/.
A useful trick is to practice with a minimal pair set focused on the final consonant: /ˈɑːrtɪkəlz/ vs /ˈɑːrtɪkəls/ to feel the difference between /z/ and /s/ endings. Focus on the /t/ to /k/ transition in the second syllable: keep /t/ crisp, let the /ɪ/ lightly release into /k/ without inserting an extra vowel. Record yourself saying sentences like 'articles about science' to confirm final voicing and rhythm across contexts.
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