Athletes are people who compete in sports, training rigorously and performing at a high level. The term encompasses competitors across disciplines, emphasizing physical prowess, strategy, and teamwork. In everyday use, “athletes” can describe individuals in amateur to elite contexts, highlighting shared dedication to training and performance.
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- You may over-smooth the middle vowel, turning /ə/ into a weaker or stronger sound; practice with minimal pairs like ath-lets vs a-thlets to feel the split. - You might insert a full vowel between syllables (æ-sə-lets) or misplace stress, which reduces intelligibility. Practice with IPA prompts and speed drills. - T and L can blur; don’t release the tongue abruptly. Aim for a light, connected /t/ to /l/ transition. - To correct, practice with slow, deliberate transitions: /ˈæθ.lɛts/ or /ˈæs.ə.lɛts/ then gradually speed up until natural.
Key tips: keep the first syllable crisp, the second syllable short, and ensure the t-l connection remains smooth for natural rhythm.
- US: emphasize a rhotic-ish feel in connected speech, but maintain a crisp /t/ before /l/. The middle vowel leans toward a near-schwa; avoid fully open or closed vowels. - UK: crisper first syllable with a shorter middle vowel; maintain non-rhoticity; emphasize the /l/ lightly with the final /ɛts/. - AU: similar to UK but often broader vowels; ensure the first vowel is not lengthened; keep /t/ light, and avoid over-enunciation of /ɪ/ or /iː/ in the middle. - IPA references help: US /ˈæs.ə.lɛts/ or /ˈæs.lɛts/; UK /ˈæθ.lɛts/; AU /ˈæθ.lɛts/.
"The city’s athletes trained together for the regional championships."
"Football players, runners, and swimmers are all athletes in their own right."
"The university hosts annual events that bring local athletes and fans together."
"Her athletic career inspired younger students to pursue sports."
The word athlete derives from the Greek word athlētēs (ἀθλητής), meaning a contestant in public games or a prizefighter. The Greek root athlous, related to struggle or contest, reflects the ancient emphasis on physical prowess and training for competition. In classical Greece, athletes trained in gymnasia and competed in events like stade races and pankration, with public honor for victors. The Latin adaptation athleta and later French athlète carried the same sense of a competitor in athletic events. In English, “athlete” appeared in the 16th–17th centuries, with “athletes” as the plural form by the 18th century as organized sports grew. Over centuries, the term broadened from singular skilled fighters to modern sport participants at all levels. The plural form aligns with contemporary usage describing groups of competitive sport practitioners, often in organized leagues, teams, or national delegations. The evolution mirrors changes in sport culture—from elite public performances to wide participation—while preserving the core idea of disciplined training and competitive spirit.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "athletes" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "athletes" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "athletes" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "athletes"
-tes sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce it as ATH-leets, with primary stress on the first syllable. In IPA: US ˈæs.ə.lɛts, UK ˈæθ.lɛts, AU ˈæθ.lets. Start with the short A as in cat, then a schwa-like second vowel in the middle, and end with l-ɛts. Quick tip: keep the t light and lean into the following l to avoid a heavy t-sound.
Common errors: over-pronouncing the middle vowel (e.g., saying æs-uh-lets or ath-leets with a long A). Also inserting an extra syllable, or pronouncing the t and l too separately, making it sound like ‘ath-leh-lets.’ Correct by using two clear syllables: /ˈæs.ə.lɛts/ in US and /ˈæθ.lɛts/ in UK, keeping the middle vowel brief and linking t to l softly.
US typically /ˈæs.ə.lɛts/ with a schwa in the middle and a light t before l. UK often /ˈæθ.lɛts/ with a shorter, crisper first vowel and a more syllable-timed rhythm. Australian tends toward /ˈæθ.lɛts/ or /ˈæs.ə.lɛts/ with a slightly broader vowel in the first syllable. Across all, the final /ts/ cluster is clear, not strongly aspirated. Mouth posture emphasizes a light touch between t and l.
Two main challenges: the transition from the stressed first syllable to the unstressed middle vowel, and the /t/ before /l/ creating a subtle consonant cluster that can blur. The T-L sequence should be linked with a light touch, avoiding an audible release before the L. Practicing /ˈæθ.lɛts/ or /ˈæs.ə.lɛts/ helps stabilize the rhythm and prevent a drawn-out middle vowel.
A key tip is to anchor the initial vowel as a short 'a' (as in cat) and keep the middle vowel brief, almost like a quick schwa, before the clear /lɛts/ ending. Visualize the word as two brisk syllables with a soft T-L link: ATH-LETS. This helps maintain the two-syllable rhythm even in fast speech.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "athletes"!
- Shadowing: listen to native speaker clips saying ‘athletes’ and repeat exactly in time. Start slow, match intonation and space between syllables. - Minimal pairs: /æθ.lɛts/ vs /æθ.əlɛts/ or /æs.ə.lɛts/ to feel the middle vowel variants; use these to stabilize the rhythm. - Rhythm practice: mark strong syllable on /æΘ/ or /æs/ and keep /lɛts/ as a short, crisp ending. - Stress practice: practice two versions with the primary stress on the first syllable; then practice a light secondary stress on the middle when emphasizing in longer phrases. - Recording: compare to a native speech sample; listen for overlength of the middle vowel and for the t-l connection. - Context sentences: “Elite athletes train daily.” “The athletes competed in three events.”
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