2 syllables: Cel, lists. Stress on Cel.
CHEL-ist
/ˈtʃɛlɪst/
Cellists is pronounced CHEL-ist (/ˈtʃɛlɪst/). It has two syllables (Cel-lists), with the stress on "Cel". Cellists are musicians who play the cello professionally or as a serious amateur. The plural noun refers to a group or multiple players, emphasizing musicianship and ensemble participation within classical or string-based repertoires.
nounCellists are musicians who play the cello professionally or as a serious amateur. The plural noun refers to a group or multiple players, emphasizing musicianship and ensemble participation within classical or string-based repertoires.
How to Pronounce Cellists
"The cellists rehearsed a delicate Bach suite for the afternoon concert."
"Two cellists joined the quartet when one violinist fell ill."
"She admires the cellists’ expressive phrasing in the modern concerto."
Pronounce as /ˈtʃɛlɪsts/ with stress on the first syllable: CHEL-ists. Start with /tʃ/ as in chair, then /ɛ/ like ‘bet’, followed by /l/ and a light, unstressed /ɪ/ in the second syllable, finishing with /sts/. The final cluster /sts/ should be crisp but not overemphasized. Tip: slightly emphasize the first syllable and let the second syllable be quicker. Audio reference: listen to sample counts at reputable diction resources or instrument-focused channels to hear the exact cello-related pronunciation.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress on the second syllable (SELL-ists) — must be CHEL-ists. (2) Slurring the /tʃ/ into a /t/ or /d/ sound or mispronouncing /ɛ/ as /æ/. (3) Overemphasizing the final /s/ or turning /ɪ/ into a full vowel like /iː/. Corrections: rehearse the initial /tʃ/ blend clearly, hold the /ɛ/ vowel in the first syllable, then release quickly into /l/ and the unstressed /ɪ/ before the /sts/ cluster. Practice with minimal pairs to stabilize the vowel length and consonant timing.
US: /ˈtʃɛlɪsts/ with rhotic but neutral /r/ absent. UK: /ˈtʃɛlɪsts/ but with shorter vowel duration and crisper /tʃ/; AU: /ˈtʃeːlɪsts/ may have a slightly different vowel quality in /ɛ/ vs /eː/; all share final /sts/ cluster. The main differences lie in vowel height and duration, as well as subtle r-coloring in non-rhotic contexts. In fast speech, the second syllable becomes quick and light in all varieties. Listen to broadcast pronunciations in classical music to align your articulation.
Because of the initial /tʃ/ blended onset, the short lax /ɛ/ vowel, and the consonant cluster /sts/ at the end. The sequence /tʃɛl/ requires precise tongue-palate contact; many speakers insert extra vowel length or reduce /l/ to a vowel approach. Additionally, the unstressed second syllable often compresses, making /ɪ/ sound shorter or omitted. Focus on: starting with a clear /tʃ/, sustaining /ɛ/ fully, then a quick /l/ before the light /ɪ/ and a sharp /sts/.
The pairing of /l/ and /ɪ/ in the second syllable can be tricky: /lɪ/ often reduces toward a schwa-like sound in fast speech, which can blur the syllable boundary. To address this, practice kadar segments: /ˈtʃɛl/ + /ɪsts/ with slight pause or clearer boundary, ensuring the /s/ at the end is audible to avoid giveaway blurring with /z/. This blend is particularly important in formal auditions or broadcast-driven contexts.
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Cellist derives from the instrument name cello, combined with the agentive suffix -ist, medievally forming professions related to instrument players. The cello, from Italian violoncello (small cello), itself from Latin violoncellus, literally ‘little stringed instrument’ (viola da gamba family). The term cello is a diminutive of viola da gamba’s family name, with yolk-like shifts in English: cello (late 17th century) → cellist (mid-18th century) in reference to players. The first use of “cellist” in English literature dates to the 18th or early 19th century as the instrument gained prominence in orchestras and solo recitals, with recordings popularizing the plural form “cellists.” The word has remained tightly bound to classical music contexts, expanding to include educators and arrangers who specialize in cello literature. Over time, “cellist” has retained its professional connotations, distinguishing string players who primarily adjoin the cello family from other string specialists.
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Words that rhyme with "Cellists"
-ist sounds
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