Aus is a short, usually informal interjection or abbr. fragment derived from Germanic languages, used in English contexts to indicate source or origin (as in Australia) or as a clipped form in phrases like “aus dem …” in some bilingual usages. In English, it can function as a preposed particle, an abbreviation, or a slang cue, typically encountered in casual speech or writing. Its pronunciation is concise, often reduced, and highly context-dependent.
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"We’ll be watching the game, aus the Australia side of the crowd."
"The flag on the pole read ‘Aus’ at the sports event."
"In German, aus means “out,” but in English you’ll mostly hear it in borrowed terms or jokes."
"Many Australians shorten phrases, saying things like ‘Aus’ to imply Australian origin in casual chat."
Aus originates as a clipped form of several Germanic-origin terms and as a symbol of origin in English. The sequence likely derives from the German conjunctions and prepositions such as aus meaning out of or from, adopted into English through bilingual discourse, travel, and media coverage of German-speaking regions. In English usage, aus has evolved into a flexible abbreviation that often signals a demographic or geographic origin (e.g., Australia) or is used as a loanword in technical or cultural contexts. The exact first known use is difficult to pinpoint, but the development tracks with postwar cross-cultural exchange and the increasing visibility of German terms in English discourse. Over time, aus has shifted from a literal spatial term in German to a broader, sometimes playful, marker for origin or source within English conversations, especially in informal speech or niche communities. Its sense of “out of/away from” remains core, but modern usage blurs formal boundaries, allowing usage in signage, sports, and pop culture to denote Australian identity, or more broadly origin-labeled shorthand. The word’s compact form mirrors a broader trend of clipped forms in English that convey meaning efficiently in rapid conversation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "aus" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "aus" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "aus"
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Pronounce as /aʊs/ in US/UK English when used as a short form for Australia or borrowed German term meaning ‘out.’ The starting diphthong /aʊ/ is like ‘ow’ in now, followed by a clear /s/. Emphasize a crisp, unvoiced /s/ at the end; avoid tensing the jaw too early. In fast speech, the /aʊ/ may be shortened slightly, but keep the /s/ audible. For German contexts where aus means ‘out,’ you’ll hear a similar /aʊs/ sound, with attention to clipped, clipped consonant release. IPA: US/UK /aʊs/. Audio reference: think of “how’s” without the h—more direct and clipped.”,
Two main mistakes: 1) Slurring the /aʊ/ into a quicker, flat monophthong; instead, maintain the diphthong by starting with /a/ and gliding to /ʊ/ to produce /aʊ/. 2) Dropping the final /s/ or turning it into a voiced /z/ in rapid speech. Ensure you release a crisp /s/ without voicing. Practicing with minimal pairs like /aʊs/ vs /aɪs/ can help you maintain the correct diphthong and final s sound. Pay attention to mouth openness and a forward tongue position for the /aʊ/ glide, then a rapid, sharp /s/ release.”,
In US/UK English, /aʊs/ with a rising diphthong followed by a crisp /s/. US rhoticity doesn’t affect this short word much; the main variation is vowel quality, where US tends to have a broader /aʊ/ than some UK accents. Australian English often has a more centralized or slightly open /aʊ/ and the final /s/ can be sharper or a little hissier due to accent-specific sibilant. In German contexts, aus is /aʊs/ with a pure, clipped vowel and final /s/. IPA references: US/UK /aʊs/, AU /aɐs/ or /aʊs/ depending on speaker.
The difficulty lies in maintaining the short, tight diphthong /aʊ/ in a single smooth glide into a crisp /s/. Some speakers default to a simple /a/ or a longer /aʊ/ without ending the /s/. The sibilant at the end can wind up voiced or soft, especially in rapid speech. Additionally, depending on language background, the German meaning aus uses a stronger, clipped release, which can confuse English pronunciation. Practice with deliberate mouth positioning: start with open jaw for /a/ then glide to /ʊ/ quickly, then right into /s/.
For search and pronunciation queries, highlight the single-syllable structure /aʊs/, noting that speakers often fragment the sound in casual speech. A successful query tone includes the IPA, a brief tip on keeping the /aʊ/ gliding and not breaking the diphthong, plus emphasis on the final /s/ to avoid a voiced /z/. In multilingual contexts, some may pronounce it like /ɑːs/ or /aʊz/ due to influence from their native language; you should clarify the intended meaning before pronouncing.
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