One syllable: bus.
buhs
/bʌs/
bus is pronounced buhs (/bʌs/). It has one syllable (bus), with the stress on "bus". Bus is a short, closed syllable noun referring to a road vehicle carrying passengers. In most varieties, it is pronounced as a single, unstressed syllable with a final /s/ or /z/ sound, depending on following phonemes. It denotes a common mode of transportation and appears in everyday speech, travel, and urban planning contexts.
nounBus is a short, closed syllable noun referring to a road vehicle carrying passengers. In most varieties, it is pronounced as a single, unstressed syllable with a final /s/ or /z/ sound, depending on following phonemes. It denotes a common mode of transportation and appears in everyday speech, travel, and urban planning contexts.
"I missed the bus this morning and had to walk to work."
"The city launched a new bus rapid transit project."
"She asked the bus driver for a transfer to the next stop."
Pronounce as /bʌs/ in US, UK, and AU. Begin with a short, open-mid central vowel /ʌ/ like 'strut.' The tongue sits mid, jaw slightly dropped, lips unrounded. Finish with a voiceless /s/ sound produced by a narrow channel at the teeth. Stress is on the single syllable; there’s no secondary stress. Audio reference: compare to ‘bus’ in TTS or pronunciation videos to hear the short, clipped vowel and crisp /s/.
Common errors include pronouncing the vowel as /æ/ (like ‘bat’) or /uː/ (like ‘boo’) and adding an extra syllable. Another frequent mistake is voicing the final consonant as /z/ in all contexts, which can blend oddly before voiceless phrases. Correct with: use /ʌ/ as in 'strut,' keep the syllable short and crisp, and end with a clean /s/. Practice with minimal pairs to feel the distinction between /ʌ/ and nearby vowels and ensure final /s/ remains voiceless in non-voiced environments.
In American, British, and Australian accents, /bʌs/ remains the core. The primary differences are vowel quality: Americans tend to have a slightly more centralized /ʌ/ and crisper /s/; Brits may maintain a tighter jaw and slightly shorter /ʌ/; Australians often have a broader vowel, but reliably /bʌs/. Consonant /s/ is consistent, though some UK speakers exhibit subtle regressive assimilation when followed by a consonant, sounding like /bʌsˈtænd/ if in a phrase with a following /t/ due to sandhi. Overall, the word remains non-rhotic as a single syllable in all three, with minimal variation.
Difficulties stem from the short, lax vowel /ʌ/ which can vary in quality by speaker and dialect, and the final /s/ which must be crisp and voiceless. Rapid speech can blur vowel length and make /s/ blend with following consonants in connected speech. Tense tongue positions can lead to substitutions with /ɜː/ or /æ/ if the jaw relaxes, and voice onset time can affect whether the /s/ is perceived as an /z/ in certain contexts. Focus on a quick, compact vowel and a clean, unvoiced final /s/ to master this word.
A unique angle for Bus is its minimal perception of aspiration after the /b/. The /b/ in /bʌs/ is typically lightly aspirated in word-initial position, but in rapid connected speech, aspiration can become less prominent. You can feel it as a slight puff at the start, but not a strong explosion of air. This nuance matters in careful speech and enunciation, particularly in broadcast or public-speaking contexts where precise consonant timing supports intelligibility.
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The word bus originates from the plural abbreviation ‘omnibus’ (Latin for ‘for all’) used in the 19th century to describe a vehicle suitable for transport of all passengers. The term was shortened in English to ‘bus’ by the mid-19th century, initially in American usage as a colloquial form before becoming standard. The omnibus concept dates to French and Latin roots; the first known English usage of omnibus as a vehicle was recorded in the 1820s, reflecting the idea of a vehicle serving multiple people. Early forms were horse-drawn; later, steam and electric buses emerged, and in the 20th century the modern mass transit bus embraced diesel and alternative fuels. Over time, ‘bus’ shifted from a generic vehicle descriptor to a fixed noun denoting a specific category of public transport. The evolution mirrors urbanization, expanding cities, and the growth of mass transit systems worldwide.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "bus" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "bus" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "bus" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "bus"
-uss sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
