One syllable: Brats.
brats
/bɹæts/
Brats is pronounced brats (/bɹæts/). It has one syllable (Brats), with the stress on "Brats". Brats is a plural noun referring to immature, misbehaving children. The term can also be used colloquially to describe unruly youths or meddling, overbearing people in a lighthearted or admonishing way. It conveys a negative judgment about conduct rather than inherent character, and its tone can range from teasing to irritated depending on context.
nounBrats is a plural noun referring to immature, misbehaving children. The term can also be used colloquially to describe unruly youths or meddling, overbearing people in a lighthearted or admonishing way. It conveys a negative judgment about conduct rather than inherent character, and its tone can range from teasing to irritated depending on context.
- Misplacing vowel quality: some speakers default to /eɪ/ or a longer /æ/; fix by practicing the short, crisp /æ/ in isolation, then in word-initial context. - Inaccurate /t/ release: avoid a heavy or delayed /t/; use a quick alveolar tap with a crisp release into /s/. - Final /s/ misarticulated: avoid adding voice; keep voiceless /s/ with a small, sharp hiss. - Slurred transition: ensure the /t/ clears before /s/ begins by practicing the /t/ + /s/ boundary as a single, fast unit. - Practice tip: practice with minimal pairs (brats vs bats, brats vs brat) to refine the /æ/ and the /t/ release for an accurate tail.
"The brat’s behavior at the restaurant drew disapproving looks from the staff."
"Some brats hijacked the team meeting with loud jokes and distractions."
"Don’t let a few brats ruin your day; stay calm and carry on."
Brats is pronounced with a short A as in cat, followed by a voiceless alveolar fricative t, and an unaspirated final s. IPA US/UK/AU: /bræts/. Mouth: start with the lips relaxed, jaw slightly dropped, tongue high-front for /æ/, then release into the /t/ with a quick tongue tip touch behind the upper front teeth and end with /s/; keep the tip near the alveolar ridge. Emphasize the short, crisp vowel and clean ending consonants for clarity.
Common errors include using a longer, lax vowel like /eɪ/ (as in ‘braits’) and inserting extra vowel sounds before the final /t/ (like ‘brat-es’). Another mistake is over-aspirating the /t/ or making the /s/ sound too sibilant. Correction: keep the vowel to a crisp /æ/, perform a clean, quick /t/ with tongue-tip contact, and finish with a short /s/. Practice by isolating the vowel, then the consonant cluster in rapid succession to solidify timing.
In US pronunciation, /bræts/ uses a flat /æ/ vowel and a tensed /t/ to end; the /r/ is rhotic and clearly voiced. UK: /brɒts/ or /brɑːts/ depending on regional variation, with a lower, more back vowels and less rhoticity in some accents; AU often aligns with US but can be slightly broader with a laxer /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ before /ts/ depending on speaker. The final /ts/ cluster remains crisp in all, but vowel quality shifts by region.
The challenge lies in achieving a precise, rapid /æ/ vowel followed immediately by a voiceless /t/ without vowel intrusion or linking. The /t/ in speed speech can verge on a tap or alveolar stop, and some speakers add a light vowel before /s/, creating /brætə s/. Focusing on a tight, quick tongue-tip contact for /t/ and compact coordination between the /t/ and /s/ can improve accuracy.
A distinctive feature is the tight, adjacent /t/ and /s/ sequence (a tense alveolar stop followed by a voiceless alveolar fricative) which can bleed into a cluster if not crisp. The result should be /bræts/, a compact consonant tail. You’ll want minimal flapping and avoid a softened or nasalized end. Concentrate on preserving the clean /t/ release before the /s/ for a sharp, confident finish.
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- US: rhoticity is explicit; /r/ colors neighboring vowels; ensure /æ/ is short and tense. - UK: expect a more open, backer /æ/ or /ɑː/ depending on region; keep /r/ non-rhotic; consonant focus remains /t/ then /s/. - AU: often resembles US with a slightly broader vowel in some speakers; maintain a clear /æ/ and a brisk /t/ release. - IPA references: US /bræts/, UK /brɔːts/ or /bræts/ depending on dialect; AU /bræts/ or /brɔːts/ depending on speaker. - General tip: keep the vowel short, avoid diphthongization, align tongue-tip for /t/ and avoid voicing at the boundary.
Brat originates in the early 16th century from the Old Norse word brat, meaning a child or offspring, which itself may be linked to old Germanic terms for ‘brood’ or ‘offspring.’ In Middle English, the word took on a colloquial shade, often used to describe a young, ill-tempered person or a noisy child. The sense shifted toward a pejorative label for disobedient or ill-mannered youths, reflecting social attitudes about childrearing and behavior. By the 19th and 20th centuries, brats frequently appeared in American slang to denote spoiled or mischievous children, sometimes with a humorous or affectionate tone depending on context. The current usage spans casual, humorous, and mildly derogatory registers; it is common in informal speech and media. First known uses appear in regional English varieties and later broadened with American pop culture, maintaining a strong negative valence about conduct rather than inherent character. Modern usage often carries a playful edge when referring to young troublemakers in a lighthearted setting, but can offend when used more harshly. Linguistic shifts also reflect regional pronunciation and rhythm, reinforcing the word’s punchy, monosyllabic core.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Brats" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Brats"
-ats sounds
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