3 syllables: Ci, ca, das. Stress on ca.
sik-AY-duhz
/sɪˈkeɪdəz/
Cicadas is pronounced sik-AY-duhz (/sɪˈkeɪdəz/). It has three syllables (Ci-ca-das), with the stress on "ca". Cicadas are large, loud-winged insects in the superfamily Cicadoidea, known for their periodic vocalizations produced by specialized structures called tymbals. They spend years underground as nymphs before emerging to mate, producing distinctive, high-pitched buzzing or clicking calls. The term also refers to a genus and to the collective voices of these insects, especially during warm seasons.
nounCicadas are large, loud-winged insects in the superfamily Cicadoidea, known for their periodic vocalizations produced by specialized structures called tymbals. They spend years underground as nymphs before emerging to mate, producing distinctive, high-pitched buzzing or clicking calls. The term also refers to a genus and to the collective voices of these insects, especially during warm seasons.
"The cicadas hummed softly in the trees after rain."
"Annual cicadas in the region emerge every summer, filling the air with sound."
"Scientists study cicadas to understand their life cycles and sound production."
You pronounce it si-CA-dahs, three syllables with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US /sɪˈkeɪ.dəz/ or /sɪˈkeɪ.dəz/? In standard American, it’s /sɪˈkeɪ.dəz/; in UK and AU, /sɪˈkeɪ.dəz/ or /sɪˈkeɪ.dəs/. The final segment is a voiced sibilant like -dez or -dəs depending on connected speech. Start with a crisp short /ɪ/ in the first syllable, steeply rising nucleus on /ˈkeɪ/, then a relaxed /dəz/ ending. Audio reference: Pronounce or Forvo entry for cicadas. The key is three syllables and stress on the second; avoid reducing the second syllable to a lax schwa without stress.
Common errors include flattening the second syllable to a quick ‘kuh-CA-das,’ misplacing the primary stress on the first syllable, and pronouncing the final as /z/ with a hard ‘z’ rather than a softer /dəs/. To correct: ensure the second syllable carries the strongest beat: si-CA-das. Maintain an unstressed first syllable with a clear /ɪ/, then a strong /keɪ/ vowel, and finish with /dəz/ or /dəz/ depending on connected speech.
In US English, expect /sɪˈkeɪ.dəz/ with a rhotacized vowel in the first syllable and a clear /z/ at the end in many dialects; UK and AU may use /sɪˈkeɒ.dəz/ or /sɪˈkeɪ.dəz/, with non-rhotic tendencies in older UK speech making the final syllable less pronounced. Australians often reduce to /sɪˈkeɪ.dəz/ with a slightly narrower /ɪ/ and a less pronounced final syllable; vowel quality can be more centralized. The primary stress remains on the second syllable across all three, but the final syllable and vowel length vary slightly by accent.
Two main challenges: the multi-syllabic rhythm where the strong stress lands on the second syllable, and the final -das/-daz cluster that can slide toward /dəs/ in connected speech. The /ɪ/ in the first syllable is short and quick, which makes the overall rhythm tricky for non-native speakers. Also, the end phoneme blends with the sibilant /z/ or /s/, so you may lean into a hiss instead of a soft final consonant. Practice keeping a steady beat and crisp second syllable nucleus.
A unique aspect is keeping the middle syllable clearly stressed without over-articulating the final syllable. The middle syllable has the key /keɪ/ vowel; you should avoid turning /keɪ/ into /kɪ/ or a dull /ke/. Also ensure the ending is not drawn out; a short /dəz/ or /dəz/ is natural, depending on speed. The word resists strong reductions, so keep the nucleus steady and the final soft.
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The word cicada comes from the Latin cicada, from Greek kikas, but the form Cicadas with -as is plural in English, modeled on Latin feminine -a plural endings; the term has been used in English since the 16th century to refer to these insects. The English plural Cicadas follows the standard -a to -as pluralization pattern with masculine/feminine borrowings. The insect Cicada traditionally has a status in classical literature and folklore, and the plural form Cicadas became common in scientific and popular usage as entomology developed as a field; the usage expanded in the 18th-19th centuries with taxonomic work by Linnaeus and later entomologists. First known use of cicada in English is documented in early modern period, with references to their buzzing and emergence. The 16th- to 18th-century popularity of cicadas in art and literature contributed to the species becoming a cultural symbol of summer and renewal. The scientific name for the order is Hemiptera, with the family Cicadidae; cica as a root appears in multiple languages to signal the sound-producing insect. Over time, cicadas have become a term both for specific taxa and for the auditory phenomenon of their chorus, particularly the periodic loud calls that define warm evenings.
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Words that rhyme with "Cicadas"
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