2 syllables: bind, ers. Stress on bind.
BEYEN-durz
/ˈbaɪndɚz/
binders is pronounced BEYEN-durz (/ˈbaɪndɚz/). It has two syllables (bind-ers), with the stress on "bind". Binders refers to things that bind or hold together, such as folders or agents that cause things to be joined. In plural form, it can denote office supplies (binder folders) or individuals who bind things in a metaphorical sense. The word emphasizes the action of binding or binding agents, often used in contexts about organization or construction. (2–4 sentences; 50–80 words).
Binders refers to things that bind or hold together, such as folders or agents that cause things to be joined. In plural form, it can denote office supplies (binder folders) or individuals who bind things in a metaphorical sense. The word emphasizes the action of binding or binding agents, often used in contexts about organization or construction. (2–4 sentences; 50–80 words).
"I ordered new binders to keep my papers organized."
"The binder clips are a cheap alternative to rings."
"The binders of evidence were produced for the court."
Pronounce as /ˈbaɪn.dərz/ in US and UK. The primary stress is on the first syllable BI N, with the vowel sound /aɪ/ as in “bite,” followed by /n/ and a schwa /ər/ depending on accent, ending with /z/ or /rz/. In American English, the final is /z/ as in z, while in careful speech you may hear /-ərz/; in fast speech it tends to /-ɚz/. Try to land the syllabic boundary clearly: /ˈbaɪn.dərz/. Audio reference: consult standard dictionaries or Forvo for native speaker examples.
Common errors include misplacing the consonant cluster /nd/ (pronouncing it as /n/ or /dn/), and mispronouncing the final /z/ as /s/ or the /ər/ as a full /ɜːr/ in some accents. Corrective tips: keep the /n/ light and release immediately into /d/ to form /nd/, then reduce the middle vowel to a schwa /ər/ rather than a full vowel, and finish with /z/ rather than /s/ by voicing the fricative. Practice with minimal pairs like “binder” vs “binders” to hear the final voiced z.
In US and UK, the first syllable bears the main stress; /ˈbaɪn.dərz/ in US and /ˈbaɪn.dəz/ in some UK varieties, with rhoticity affecting the /r/ quality in /dər/. Australian English tends to reduce the /ə/ syllable slightly and may display a more centralized vowel in the second syllable, giving /ˈbaɪn.dəz/ with less rhotic detail. Overall, the core /ˈbaɪn/ remains consistent; the final /z/ is voiced and stable across accents.
The difficulty lies in the /nd/ consonant cluster following a diphthong /aɪ/ and the transition from a stressed syllable to a reduced schwa /ər/ before the final voiced /z/. Coordinating tongue position for /aɪ/ (high front diphthong) with the alveolar nasal /n/ and /d/ release, then a rapid schwa, plus maintaining voice on /z/ can be challenging for non-native speakers. Slow practice helps: mouth the full /aɪ/, then smoothly glide into /nd/ and end with /z/.
The word ends with a voiced sibilant /z/, making voicing crucial. In careful speech, you hear a distinct /z/ with a small vowel vowel-like release before the final z; in casual speech you may get a shorter, almost clipped /-z/. The distribution of voicing in the final syllable differs subtly across dialects, but ensuring you vocalize the /z/ is essential for natural-sounding ‘binders’.
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The noun binder comes from the verb bind, which in Old English is bindan, from Proto-Germanic *bindaną, related to Old Norse boundinn and Dutch binden. The sense evolved from something that ties or fastens to a person or thing that binds or secures, and in modern English, “binder” often denotes a device (like a metal ring binder) or a person/thing that binds. The plural form “binders” follows the standard English pluralization by adding -s. The term has long been used in office and archival contexts; “binding” in bookmaking and legal contexts also shares a common root. First known uses appear in Middle English texts, with standardized forms emerging in the 18th–19th centuries as office supplies and fastening devices became common in commerce and law.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "binders" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "binders" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "binders"
-ers sounds
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