3 syllables: A, zea, lia Banks. Stress on zea.
uh-ZAY-lee-uh-bangks
/əˈzeɪliə bæŋks/
Azealia Banks is pronounced uh-ZAY-lee-uh-bangks (/əˈzeɪliə bæŋks/). It has three syllables (A-zea-lia Banks), with the stress on "zea". Azealia Banks is the stage name of a controversial American rapper, singer, and actress known for her provocative online persona and distinctive vocal style. The name itself combines the first name “Azealia” with the surname “Banks,” used professionally since the mid-2010s. In reference, it denotes a specific public figure rather than a common noun or place.
proper nounAzealia Banks is the stage name of a controversial American rapper, singer, and actress known for her provocative online persona and distinctive vocal style. The name itself combines the first name “Azealia” with the surname “Banks,” used professionally since the mid-2010s. In reference, it denotes a specific public figure rather than a common noun or place.
How to Pronounce Azealia Banks
"Azealia Banks released a new single that sparked online debate about her lyrical imagery."
"During the interview, Azealia Banks addressed the controversy surrounding her tweets."
"Fans of her early work still quote lines from Azealia Banks’s mixtapes."
Pronounce as /ˌæz.iˈeɪ.li bæŋks/ in US and UK practice, with four syllables for Azealia and one for Banks. Primary stress on the third syllable in Azealia (a-ZEA-lia) and primary stress on Banks. You’ll start with /æ/ in the first syllable, glide to /z/ onset, then /i/ as a short i, then /ˈeɪ/ in the second vowel cluster, followed by /li/ and finally /bæŋks/. Tip: keep /æ/ clear, avoid conflating with /ə/ in fast speech.
Common errors: 1) Flattening the Azealia into a two-syllable name, misplacing stress (say /æˈzɪli/); correction: emphasize the /ˈeɪ/ and /li/ syllables as a three-beat sequence (a-ZEAI-li). 2) Slurring the /z/ into a soft /s/ or mispronouncing the middle /eɪ/ as /iː/; correction: keep /ˈeɪ/ clear, like the vowel sound in “pay.” 3) Running the final /s/ into a following consonant; correction: hold the final /s/ as a distinct voiceless sibilant before ‘Banks.’ For Banks, ensure the /æ/ stays bright and /ŋ/ is velar with proper nasal airflow.
Across accents, the main variance is in the Azealia vowel quality and rhoticity. US and UK generally keep /æ/ in the first syllable and a clear /eɪ/ in the third, with non-rhotic UK sometimes impacting linking into /li/. Australian speakers tend toward slightly higher diphthongization of /eɪ/ and may reduce /æ/ toward a near-open front unrounded vowel. Banks herself is often cited with rhotic American pronunciation; US /ˌæz.iˈeɪ.li/ more strongly rhotics, UK variants may be less rhotic and have a crisper /æ/ and sharper /ɪ/ in the second syllable.
It’s tricky due to the multi-syllabic given name with a nonstandard spelling, the three-syllable rhythm of Azealia (a-ZEA-li-a) and the mid-word /eɪ/ diphthong that contrasts with the initial /æ/ and later /li/. The stress pattern—secondary on the first two syllables and primary on the third—can be easy to misplace, especially in rapid speech. The surname Banks adds a final /ŋks/ cluster that requires a crisp release. Practicing the sequence slowly helps stabilize the rhythm.
A unique feature is the mid-word /eɪ/ diphthong in the third syllable of Azealia (a-ZEAI-lia). This diphthong contrasts with the earlier /æ/ and the final /li/ before Banks. Another feature is the final consonant cluster /ŋks/ in Banks, which requires sustained velar nasal plus voiceless fricative release. Keeping the /æ/ distinct from /ə/ in rapid speech and articulating the /li/ as a syllabic or clear syllable helps clarity.
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Azealia Banks is a proper noun formed by combining a unique given name variant with a common English surname. The given name Azealia is a feminine form of Azalea, which itself comes from the flowering plant azalea, linked to the Greek word azaleos meaning dry or withered, though in contemporary use it functions primarily as a personal name with phonetic emphasis on the second syllable. Banks is a typical English surname deriving from occupational or topographic origins, often related to someone who lived by a bank or riverbank, or who worked with banks (molders, bench-makers, or river-bank features). The combination as a stage name was popularized by the artist in the 2010s and is typically treated as a single entity in media. The first prominence of AZeALIA Banks in public discourse stems from music releases and social media activity around 2011–2012, with the capitalization and spelling variations reflecting branding choices. The name has since been used consistently in press coverage, fashion, and entertainment journalism, with the capitalization often stylized as AZEaLiA or Azealia in various contexts, though standard publication usage tends toward Azealia Banks as two-word proper noun.
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Words that rhyme with "Azealia Banks"
-nks sounds
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