2 syllables: cap, tains. Stress on cap.
KAP-tuhnz
/ˈkæptənz/
captains is pronounced KAP-tuhnz (/ˈkæptənz/). It has two syllables (cap-tains), with the stress on "cap". Captains refers to individuals who hold the rank of captain in organizations such as ships, sports teams, or aviation units. The term designates a leadership position with authority over a crew or team, and may imply ceremonial duties as well as operational command. In everyday use, it often appears as a plural noun describing multiple captains or as an attributive noun describing captaincy-related roles.
Captains refers to individuals who hold the rank of captain in organizations such as ships, sports teams, or aviation units. The term designates a leadership position with authority over a crew or team, and may imply ceremonial duties as well as operational command. In everyday use, it often appears as a plural noun describing multiple captains or as an attributive noun describing captaincy-related roles.
"The ship's captains met to discuss weather routes for the voyage."
"Several captains from different teams attended the podium to celebrate the season's end."
"The airfield ushered in new captains who would pilot the next generation of flights."
CAP-tins: The primary stress is on CAP (first syllable). IPA: US/UK/AU all render it as /ˈkæptənz/ for the plural. Ensure you clearly separate the two syllables with a light schwa in the second and finalize with an voiced z. Think of ‘captain’ with a plural s. Be mindful of the /t/ taj in the middle—don’t fuse it with the following vowel.
Common errors: 1) Slurring the /t/ into the following vowel, producing /kæptənz/ with a weak /t/. 2) Losing the /ə/ in the second syllable, sounding like /ˈkæptənz/ vs /ˈkæptənz/. 3) Mispronouncing the final /z/ as /s/. Correction: keep a crisp /t/ release and voice the final fricative as /z/, with the tongue near the alveolar ridge.
US, UK, and AU share the same core /ˈkæptənz/ core, but differences lie in /æ/ quality (more open in UK), rhoticity (US rhoticity often makes the /r/ influence earlier if a vowel follows in connected speech), and the second syllable’s vowel length or reduced quality (UK often shorter, Austral./US may be similar). The final /z/ remains voiced across accents. Pay attention to UK’s more clipped /t/ and AU’s vowel height.
Two main challenges: the /æ/ in CAP can vary by speaker tone, making the vowel feel more like /aɪ/ for some. The mid syllable /ə/ can reduce toward a schwa leading to /kæptənz/ vs /ˈkæptənz/. Lastly, the final /z/ is voiced and longer than a typical s, especially in connected speech. Practice saying CAP with a crisp /t/ release, then voice the /z/ clearly to finish.
A unique concern is maintaining uniform stress and avoiding an unintended secondary stress on -tins when speaking quickly. You want /ˈkæp-tənz/ with primary stress on CAP, not CAP-tins. Visualize the two syllables clearly, avoid linking /t/ too closely to /ən/, and ensure your lips round slightly for the /æ/ onset while keeping the /t/ aspirated. Recording yourself helps identify subtle shifts.
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- US: R-colored stress patterns influence rhythm; keep /æ/ bright, /ə/ relaxed; /z/ voiced, keep throat relaxed. - UK: Slightly shorter /æ/ and crisper /t/, with less vowel vowel color in /ə/. - AU: Similar to US but with less rhotacism pressure and a slightly broader /æ/; ensure final /z/ is voiced, not whispered. IPA references: /ˈkæptənz/ across accents.
The word captain derives from the Old French word captein, from Latin capitānus, derived from caput, meaning head. In medieval contexts, capitānus referred to a chief or head person in an army or ship’s crew. The term evolved to denote the commanding officer of a vessel or military unit. English usage broadened in the 13th–14th centuries to include leaders of ships, armies, and later, figurative leadership roles (e.g., “captain of industry”). The plural form captains appears as early as the 14th–15th centuries in English texts referencing multiple leaders or commanders. Over time, “captain” also accrued specialized ranks in naval, airline, and sports contexts, maintaining the core sense of leadership and command, with organizational and ceremonial responsibilities depending on the domain.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "captains" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "captains" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "captains"
-ers sounds
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