2 syllables: at, tains. Stress on tains.
uh-TAYNZ
/əˈteɪnz/
attains is pronounced uh-TAYNZ (/əˈteɪnz/). It has two syllables (at-tains), with the stress on "tains". Attains is a verb meaning to achieve or reach a goal or level. It denotes successfully gaining or reaching something through effort, often implying progression or fulfillment over time. The form attains covers third-person singular present tense, as in 'she attains mastery' or 'the project attains its aims.'.
Attains is a verb meaning to achieve or reach a goal or level. It denotes successfully gaining or reaching something through effort, often implying progression or fulfillment over time. The form attains covers third-person singular present tense, as in 'she attains mastery' or 'the project attains its aims.'
- You may overly emphasize the first syllable, saying a-TAYNZ with a hard onset; instead, keep the initial schwa light and let the stress sit on the second syllable /teɪ/. - Some speakers insert a hard /t/ before the /eɪ/ (like /ætˈeɪnz/); avoid this by allowing a smooth transition from /ə/ to /eɪ/. - Ending cluster confusion: pronounce the final /nz/ as a clean, voiced nasal followed by a voiced sibilant, not a fricative alone or a voiceless /s/. Practice pairing with ‘gains’ to feel the /nz/ at the end. - In connected speech, the /t/ sometimes elides; be aware when you’re linking to a following word beginning with a vowel, the /t/ can be lightly released or omitted—maintain the /ˈteɪnz/ target for clarity.
"She attains a high level of fluency after years of study."
"The policy attains broad public support over time."
"He attains the required qualifications to enter the program."
Pronounce it as /əˈteɪnz/. The stress is on the second syllable: a-TAYNZ. Start with a schwa /ə/, move to a long A diphthong /eɪ/, then end with a voiced alveolar nasal /n/ + /z/. Mouth positions: relaxed initial, tongue high-mid for /eɪ/ diphthong, final z is voiced. Audio reference: you can compare with words like ‘gains’ and ‘maintains’ for musicality of the ending /nz/.
Two common errors: misplacing stress (say a-TATE-ne or a-taynz) and pronouncing the ending as /s/ or /z/ inconsistently. Correct approach: keep the /ə/ syllable soft, stress on /teɪ/ (the second syllable), and pronounce the final /nz/ with a voiced nasal stop followed by a voiced alveolar fricative. Practice by blending the diphthong with the nasal and voicing the ending clearly: /əˈteɪnz/.
US/UK/AU share /əˈteɪnz/; differences are subtle. US tends to keep the final /nz/ tightly articulated with a slightly stronger /z/; UK may have a marginally shorter /ɪ/ in nearby words and crisper /n/ timing; AU often exhibits more relaxed vowel length and a softer /ɪ/ in surrounding vowels. In rhotic contexts, the r is not present here, but neighboring sounds can influence rhythm. Overall, the core is /əˈteɪnz/ across three accents.
The challenge lies in the smooth transition from the schwa to the long diphthong /eɪ/ and then the final /nz/ sequence. The /t/ is not pronounced as a separate release in many accents before /eɪ/, so you need a clean glide into /eɪ/ and then a rapid, voiced /n/ + /z/ cluster. Misdirected energy on the first syllable or adding extra consonants (like /t/ or /d/) can muddy the word. Focus on a crisp a-THIRD syllable onset and protect the /nz/ ending.
A unique feature is the seamless liaison between the stressed /teɪ/ and the final /nz/ cluster, creating a single, rising rhythm: ə-TAYNZ. Unlike many two-syllable verbs, the final consonant cluster is tightly bound to the preceding vowel, so the word feels quick and smooth in fluent speech. Paying attention to the timing of the /n/ and /z/ helps avoid a staccato finish and preserves native-like cadence.
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- US: Keep rhotics subtle; maintain the /ə/ as a soft schwa, emphasize the /eɪ/ strongly, and ensure the /nz/ is voiced and smooth. - UK: Slightly shorter /eɪ/ and a crisper /nz/; avoid over-enunciating the first syllable. - AU: Tendency toward more relaxed vowels; the /eɪ/ can be slightly more centralized, but keep the /nz/ clear. Remember IPA: /əˈteɪnz/.
Attains derives from the Latin attĭnēre, from ad- ‘to’ + tenēre ‘to hold, grasp.’ The form entered English via Old French atteindre (to reach, to attain) and later Middle English attaynen, attayned, reflecting the idea of holding or arriving at a target. The semantic arc centers on reaching a state or goal through effort, with early senses tied to physical grasp or attainment. By the 15th century, attains became firmly established as “reaches by effort” in general use, including abstract goals (status, achievement). The verb evolved through pronunciation shifts typical of English borrowing, with the unstressed -s ending following the modern third-person singular pattern. Over time, attains has retained its core sense of reaching or achieving a state or objective, while increasingly appearing in formal or academic contexts, policy discourse, and descriptions of personal or organizational progress. The phonology aligns with standard English verb endings in present tense, where the -s is pronounced as /z/ after voiced sounds, as in /əˈteɪnz/.
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Words that rhyme with "attains"
-ins sounds
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