2 syllables: char, ters. Stress on char.
CHAHR-turz
/ˈtʃɑɹtɚz/
charters is pronounced CHAHR-turz (/ˈtʃɑɹtɚz/). It has two syllables (char-ters), with the stress on "char". Charters refers to individuals or organizations that authorize or document something, such as chartered companies, ships, or agreements. As a verb, it can mean to grant charters or to hire out vehicles or vessels. In practice, it often appears in legal, corporate, and maritime contexts, signaling formal authorization or the act of issuing a charter.
Charters refers to individuals or organizations that authorize or document something, such as chartered companies, ships, or agreements. As a verb, it can mean to grant charters or to hire out vehicles or vessels. In practice, it often appears in legal, corporate, and maritime contexts, signaling formal authorization or the act of issuing a charter.
"The city approved the charters for three new educational cooperatives."
"We chartered a boat for the weekend excursion and invited the charters' officers aboard."
"The airline might charter aircraft under a short-term agreement with the parent company."
Charters is pronounced with two syllables: /ˈtʃɑːr.tərz/ in US English, or /ˈtʃɑː.təz/ in many UK and AU varieties. The first syllable bears primary stress and contains the open back vowel /ɑː/. The second syllable is a reduced schwa or /ər/; the final ‘z’ is voiced. In rapid speech, you may hear /ˈtʃɑː.təz/ with a lighter second vowel and a longer /ər/ syllable before the final /z/. Mouth position centers the tongue low-back for /ɑː/, with the lips slightly rounded in many speakers; the /r/ is a retroflex or bunched approximant depending on accent.
Common errors: 1) Flattening the second syllable as a full /ər/ without reduced vowel; correct the second syllable to /ər/ or /əz/ depending on accent. 2) Misplacing stress on the second syllable; keep primary stress on the first syllable /ˈtʃɑː/. 3) Mispronouncing /t/ or /d/ blends before the suffix; ensure a crisp /t/ followed by a weak vowel. Practice by isolating the two syllables: /ˈtʃɑːr/ + /tərz/ and then merge with a light, quick final /z/.
In US English, charters typically /ˈtʃɑːr.tərz/ with a rhotic /r/ in the first syllable and a clear /z/ at the end. In UK English, it is often /ˈtʃɑː.təz/ with a non-rhotic /r/ and a reduced final vowel; some speakers may insert a small /ə/ before the final /z/. Australian English can be similar to UK but with slightly broader vowels; final /z/ remains voiced. The key differences are rhoticity in US vs non-rhotic in UK/AU and the second syllable vowel quality.
The difficulties center on achieving accurate /tʃ/ onset, the long /ɑː/ in the first syllable, and the reduced, unstressed second syllable /ər/ or /əz/ that blends into /z/. The transition from stressed to unstressed syllable creates a quick syllable boundary; speakers often insert an unwarranted vowel. Additionally, the /r/ may be fully pronounced or muted depending on accent, which changes the perceived pronunciation. Mastery comes from crisp first syllable and natural second-syllable reduction.
Spelling hides two pronunciation points: the final -ers often yields /-ərz/ or /-əz/ depending on register, not /-erz/. Also the 'ch' is /tʃ/ as in chair, not /k/ or /sh/. Pay attention to the 'ar' as a long /ɑː/; many non-native speakers treat it like /æ/. Practice by contrasting /ˈtʃɑːr/ and /ˈtʃɑːtərz/ in connected speech and listening for the short, almost silent second syllable in rapid talk.
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Charter (noun) derives from Old French chartier, later charter, from Latin charta ‘paper, document,’ via Germanic influences. The verb to charter reached English in the 14th century, originally meaning to grant a charter or to hire a ship. The sense broadened into organizations and towns receiving official documents of rights and privileges. Over time, “charter” became a common term in maritime law and corporate governance. The word’s Proto-Indo-European root is reconstructed as *sker-/*sker- meaning ‘to cut or to write,’ evolving into a written grant or permission document. Early uses surface in medieval communal charters establishing liberties. By the 17th–18th centuries, “charter” referred to the bodies corporate that held rights granted by the crown or state. In modern usage, it encompasses legal instruments, corporate entities, and rental arrangements for vehicles, ships, or aircraft. The term’s semantic field has shifted from a formal legal grant to include more casual meanings, such as the act of chartering a service or vessel under a contractual agreement, while retaining its core sense of authorization and formal documentation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "charters" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "charters" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "charters"
-ers sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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