2 syllables: ca, reers. Stress on reers.
/kəˈrɪərz/
Say it backCareers refers to the series of professional roles or jobs that a person undertakes over their working life. It can also describe the pursuit or path of employment in a particular field. The term emphasizes long-term occupational progression and the trajectory of work across multiple positions rather than a single job. It is commonly used in discussions of career planning, advancement, and employment trends.
"She spent years building her careers in marketing and product development."
"The company offers coaching to help you manage your careers and set long-term goals."
"Students often explore several internships before committing to a specific careers path."
You say ki-REERZ with the main stress on the second syllable. Phonetically: US/UK /kəˈriːərz/ or /ˈkær.iəz/ depending on accent. In many US pronunciations, the second syllable carries primary stress and the final -s is an /z/ sound, so it sounds like kuh-REERZ. Use a short, relaxed first syllable before the stressed second syllable, and end with a voiced /z/.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (pronouncing CARE-ers instead of ca-REERS), reducing the second syllable too much (making it /-riə/ or /-riɚ/ without the long vowel), and voicing the final /s/ as /s/ instead of /z/. To correct: keep the second syllable clearly stressed with a long /iː/ or /iə/ quality, and end with a voiced /z/ not a voiceless /s/.
In US English the stress tends to be on the second syllable with a rhotic, slightly schwa-like initial sound and a final /z/. In UK English, some speakers prefer a slightly shorter first syllable and a clearer /ː/ in the second vowel, with a non-rhotic or weak rhotic quality and the final /z/ as a voiced z. Australian English resembles UK in vowels but often features a broader/diphthongal realization of /ɪə/ or /iə/ in the second syllable with final /z/.
The difficulty comes from the contrast between the second syllable’s long vowel sounds and the final voiced /z/. The sequence /riːər/ or /riə/ combines a diphthong or long vowel with a mid- to high-front vowel before a voiced consonant, which can be tricky for learners who ship-shape the vowel length or who confuse the tensed vowel in the second syllable with the first. Mastery requires precise vowel length, glide control, and voicing for the final /z/.
A distinctive feature is the cohesion of the second syllable’s vowel cluster with the final -ers, which often carries a long, tense vowel followed by a voiced sibilant. Learners should focus on maintaining a clear secondary stress in the second syllable and not letting the /r/ reduce away in non-rhotic varieties; in rhotic accents, the /r/ should be pronounced as an approximant before the final /z/.
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Careers originates from the Old French word carriere, from late Latin carriaria, meaning ‘road, course of life,’ itself derived from caro, car- meaning ‘flesh, body’ but used metaphorically as a ‘course’ or ‘path’ in one’s life and work. The modern sense of a person’s progress through different jobs emerged in English by the 15th–16th centuries, with employment and professional path connotations expanding in the 19th and 20th centuries as industrialization and education broadened job specialization. The plural form careers appeared in English as the scope of a person’s professional life expanded beyond a single position, reflecting a trajectory rather than a singular role. First known written uses relate to a course of life or professional trajectory rather than a singular job.”,
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Help others use "careers" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "careers" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "careers" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "careers"
-ers sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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