2 syllables: cen, sors. Stress on cen.
SEN-surz
/ˈsɛnsɚz/
censors is pronounced SEN-surz (/ˈsɛnsɚz/). It has two syllables (cen-sors), with the stress on "cen". Censors refers to individuals or bodies that examine and suppress objectionable material, such as speech, media, or information, often enforcing rules or laws. The term can also describe devices that suppress or filter signals. The word emphasizes authority and preventive control rather than production, and is commonly used in media, government, and organizational contexts.
Censors refers to individuals or bodies that examine and suppress objectionable material, such as speech, media, or information, often enforcing rules or laws. The term can also describe devices that suppress or filter signals. The word emphasizes authority and preventive control rather than production, and is commonly used in media, government, and organizational contexts.
- Misplacing stress on the second syllable or making it monosyllabic. Keep primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈsɛn.sərz/. - Over-emphasizing the second syllable; aim for a quick, relaxed /sər/. - Final consonant voicing errors: ensure the ending is a clear /z/ (voiced) rather than an unvoiced /s/ or a nasal blend. - Common vowel trap: make sure the first syllable uses a short /ɛ/ rather than an /e/ as in 'seen'; use /sɛn/ not /sen/ . - Connected speech trap: avoid inserting extra vowels between syllables; keep /sɛn/ and /sərz/ cleanly segmented but smoothly connected.
"The government appointed censors to review films before release."
"Social media platforms employ automated systems and human censors to enforce community guidelines."
"Some journalists accused the state of censorship after critical articles were removed."
You pronounce it as /ˈsɛn.sərz/ in General American. The first syllable carries primary stress: CEN-sors. The second syllable uses a schwa followed by z-sound. Your mouth starts with a short e as in “pen,” then relaxes to a neutral vowel in the second syllable, finishing with the /z/ voiced consonant. Listen for the subtle /ər/ in the second syllable. Audio resources: try dictionaries with native speaker recordings to confirm the /ˈsɛn.sərz/ pattern.
Two common errors are misplacing the stress and mispronouncing the second syllable as /ɪrz/ or /ərz/. Some say /ˈsen.sors/ with a long e in the first syllable; others omit the final z or voice it incorrectly as /s/ or /z/ without voicing. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, use /ˈsɛn.sərz/ with a clear /ɜr/ (schwa + r) in the second syllable, and ensure the final consonant is a voiced /z/. Practice with minimal pairs focusing on /ˈsɛn/ vs /ˈsen/ and /sərz/ vs /sərz/.”
In US English, /ˈsɛn.sərz/ with rhoticity; the r is pronounced in the second syllable. In UK English, /ˈsen.səz/ with a weaker or non-rhotic second syllable in some dialects, and a shorter /ə/ sound; subtle vowel quality differences exist. In Australian English, /ˈsen.səz/ similar to UK but with broader vowels and often a slightly more centralized second syllable. Overall, the key differences are rhoticity and vowel quality in the second syllable, while the first syllable remains relatively stable across regions.
The difficulty lies in the short, tense first syllable with /ɛ/ and the unstressed, vowel-reduced second syllable /ər/ that blends into /z/. The contrast between a clear /ɛ/ followed by a quick /s/ and the voiced /z/ at the end can be tricky for non-native speakers. Also, the /ər/ sequence can blur to a schwa or a quick /ɜː/ depending on accent. Focus on keeping the first syllable crisp and the final cluster voiced, smooth, and unaspirated.
Does the final -ors in censors have an S or Z sound in different contexts? In this word, the final sound is a voiced z as in /z/, not /s/. The distinction matters in connected speech: you’ll link to the next word and might voice the final consonant differently. Remember, censors = /ˈsɛn.sərz/ with final /z/; avoid pronouncing a voiceless /s/ or an unvoiced /ɺ/ combination.
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- US: rhotic /r/ in the second syllable; maintain a clear /ɜː/ or /ər/ depending on speaker. - UK: often non-rhotic; the second syllable may be pronounced with a weaker /əz/ or /əz/; keep the first syllable /ˈsen/ with a short e. - AU: similar to UK with slightly broader vowels; maintain /ˈsen.səz/ with a light, non-rhotic second syllable. Emphasize the final voiced /z/ to prevent devoicing in rapid speech. Reference IPA to guide precise articulation.
The word censor comes from Latin censor, originally an officer in ancient Rome charged with maintaining review of moral conduct and conducting the census. The Latin term traces back to censere, meaning to assess, estimate, or judge. In English, censor appeared in the 17th century, initially denoting a person who examines manuscripts and public morals. By the 18th and 19th centuries, censorship broadened to include government or organizational suppression of information, especially in print and cinema. The plural form censors emerged to refer to multiple individuals or bodies responsible for such review. Over time, the concept evolved with technology, extending from print to broadcast media and, more recently, digital content, where automated filters and algorithmic moderation operate alongside human censors. The word maintains a tension between protection and control, reflecting historical concerns about moral guardianship and state power. First known use in print attested in the 1600s, with shifts in meaning as media landscapes shifted across centuries.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "censors" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "censors"
-ors sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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