One syllable: cars.
kahrz
/kɑɹz/
cars is pronounced kahrz (/kɑɹz/). It has one syllable (cars), with the stress on "cars". Cars refers to motor vehicles with four wheels designed for road travel, typically powered by an internal combustion engine or electric motor. The plural form indicates more than one vehicle. In everyday speech, 'cars' is a common noun used to discuss ownership, transportation, or car-related topics. Phonetically, it is a single-syllable word with a final z-sound in many dialects.
Cars refers to motor vehicles with four wheels designed for road travel, typically powered by an internal combustion engine or electric motor. The plural form indicates more than one vehicle. In everyday speech, 'cars' is a common noun used to discuss ownership, transportation, or car-related topics. Phonetically, it is a single-syllable word with a final z-sound in many dialects.
"I bought three new cars last year."
"The traffic on the highway is heavy with cars."
"Electric cars are becoming more popular worldwide."
In American English, pronounce as /kɑɹz/ with a single syllable, starting with a low back lax vowel in American rhotacized /ɹ/ ending in /z/. In British English, it is commonly /kɑːz/ with a long /ɑː/ and a final /z/ or a lightly voiced /s/ depending on liaison. For Australian English, expect /kɑːz/ as well, with a more clipped or nasal quality depending on region. Practical tip: keep the mouth open for /ɑː/, then softly voice the final /z/ without adding extra vowel after it.
Two frequent errors: (1) Replacing the final /z/ with a voiceless /s/ in rapid speech, which can sound like /kɑɹs/ on casual speech. Correct by ensuring voicing carries through the final consonant; practice with minimal pairs /kɑɹz/ vs /kɑɹs/. (2) Overlengthening the /ɑː/ in British varieties, producing /kæːɹz/ or a drawn-out vowel. Focus on a single, steady /ɑː/ before the final /z/ and avoid adding a vowel after /z/.
US: rhotic /ɹ/ and lax /ɑ/ vowel in /kɑɹz/ with clear vocalic nucleus. UK: non-rhotic or variably rhotic; often /kɑːz/ with lengthened /ɑː/ and a voiced/voiceless final depending on region and linking. AU: /kɑːz/ with more centralized /ɜːr/ or /ˈkɑːz/ in some regions; some speakers may merge to /kɔːz/ depending on vowel shift. Focus on rhoticity and vowel quality differences.
The difficulty lies in the transition from a low back vowel to a voiced alveolar sibilant, particularly for non-native speakers. The voiced final /z/ requires voicing, which can be subtle when adjacent sounds blend. Additionally, the /ɹ/ in US speech can be tricky for learners with limited exposure to rhotic accents. Practice tip: exaggerate the /ɑ/ vowel slightly, then smoothly glide into /ɹ/ and finish with a crisp /z/.
Yes. The word is a closed-syllable unit with a CVC cluster plus final voiced fricative; you should maintain a steady, quick articulation without inserting extra vowel sounds after the /z/. The plural s in ’cars’ also often carries a light assimilation to surrounding sounds in rapid speech, so you may hear a tiny assimilation of the preceding vowel quality depending on context and speaker. IPA guidance helps lock the exact vowel duration and voicing.
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The word car originates from the Latin carrus, meaning a wheeled vehicle, via the Old North French carre, later evolving in English into car. The modern sense of a motor vehicle emerged in the 19th century with the advent of steam and internal combustion engines. The plural cars surfaces in English to indicate multiple vehicles. The term likely moved from generic wagon to motor car as automotive technology matured, with early usage recorded in the 1880s and 1890s as automobiles became widespread. Over time, ‘car’ also generalized in various phrases in idiomatic speech (car park, car loan), and the plural form ‘cars’ is ubiquitously used in discussion of ownership, fleet, and transportation policy. The word’s journey tracks the broader industrial and urban development of motorized travel in the English-speaking world, reflecting shifts in technology and everyday language use.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "cars" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "cars" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "cars" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "cars"
-ars sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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