2 syllables: chem, ists. Stress on chem.
KEM-uhsts
/ˈkɛməsts/
chemists is pronounced KEM-uhsts (/ˈkɛməsts/). It has two syllables (chem-ists), with the stress on "chem". Chemists refers to scientists who study the composition, properties, and reactions of substances, especially through experimental methods. The term commonly denotes professionals working in chemistry laboratories or industries, applying chemical knowledge to analyze materials, develop compounds, and ensure safety and quality. In everyday use, it can describe people who work in preparatory or analytical roles within chemical contexts.
Chemists refers to scientists who study the composition, properties, and reactions of substances, especially through experimental methods. The term commonly denotes professionals working in chemistry laboratories or industries, applying chemical knowledge to analyze materials, develop compounds, and ensure safety and quality. In everyday use, it can describe people who work in preparatory or analytical roles within chemical contexts.
- Mistaking the second syllable vowel: often pronounced as a schwa or elongated; aim for /ˈkɛm.ɪsts/ with a crisp /ɪ/. - Final cluster confusion: avoid turning /t/ into a voiced /d/ before /s/; keep /t/ clearly released before /s/. - Slurring the /m/ and /ɪ/ into a single sound; maintain separation to keep the word two distinct syllables. - Incorrect stress: ensure primary stress on the first syllable CHE-; do not shift the stress to the second syllable in rapid speech.
"The chemists at the lab developed a new catalyst for the reaction."
"She collaborated with the local chemists to verify the purity of the compound."
"The chemists presented their findings at the conference, highlighting new synthetic routes."
Pronounce as /ˈkɛm.ɪsts/ in US and UK English, with the primary stress on CHE. The first syllable uses the short e as in “kem,” followed by a short i in the second syllable, and ends with /sts/. In careful speech, the chain is /ˈkɛm.ɪsts/. In connected speech, you may hear slight reduction to /ˈkɛm.ɪsts/; keep the /t/ clear before /s/ to avoid a slurred /s/ cluster. Listen to native examples and mimic their vowel length and crisp consonants.
Common errors include merging /m/ with /n/ in the second syllable or softening the /t/ into a /d/ before /s/, yielding /ˈkɛm.ɪdz/ or /ˈkɛm.ɪsts/ with unclear /t/. Another mistake is reducing the /ɪ/ to a schwa in the second syllable, sounding like /ˈkɛm.əsts/. To correct: keep a crisp /t/ before /s/ and maintain a clear /ɪ/ in the second syllable; practice with minimal pairs like chem- vs. chum- and practice the t-s cluster slowly.
In US, UK, and AU, /ˈkɛm.ɪsts/ is generally consistent with primary stress on the first syllable. Rhotic influence may affect the preceding vowel quality slightly in connected speech; however, the word remains non-rhotic-like, with final /s/ crisp. AU English often has slightly shorter vowel length and more clipped vowels in rapid speech. The main variation is vowel quality and the speed of the /s/ in the final cluster; focus on preserving /t/ before /s/ to avoid a /d/ sound in some rapid UK speech.
The difficulty lies in the final consonant cluster -/t/ + /s/ after a short vowel in the second syllable, which can devolve into a /dz/ or vanish in rapid speech. Learners often mishandle the short /ɪ/ quality in the second syllable, making it sound like /kɛmɛsts/. Another challenge is maintaining clear separation and timing between /m/ and /ɪ/ and the /t/ before /s/; practice with slow phoneme-by-phoneme drills can help.
No: chemists is the plural noun, pronounced with two syllables in the main stress and the /s/ at the end, not the possessive 'chemist’s' which carries a different stress due to the apostrophe-s. The possessive form would typically be /ˈkɛm.ɪsts/ as well, but in spoken English, the distinction arises in context or in writing; the pronunciation remains the same, though phrasing can imply ownership. Ensure you maintain the final /s/ in chemists, not an added /z/ in pluralization when speaking.
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The word chemist comes from the Old French chimiste, from Late Latin chemista, and ultimately from the Greek word khemeia (χυμεία/χημεία), meaning “alchemy” or the art of transmuting metals. The root khemeia referred to the transmutations sought by ancient alchemists, especially in the pursuit of gold. Through medieval and early modern periods, the term broadened from mystical alchemy to the systematic science of substances and their properties. In English, chemist appeared in the 17th century as practitioners who studied and experimented with chemical substances, evolving with the establishment of modern chemistry in the 18th and 19th centuries. The modern sense centers on professional science in chemistry laboratories, analysis, and synthesis. First known use in print traces to early publications discussing laboratory practices and chemical experiments, reflecting the shift from alchemical speculation to empirical science.
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Help others use "chemists" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "chemists" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "chemists" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "chemists"
-sts sounds
-s t sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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