Clergy (n.) a group of people ordained for religious duties, especially in Christian contexts. The term denotes the formal, recognized leadership within a church, such as priests, ministers, or rabbis, depending on denomination. It is used to refer to the collective profession or body, as in discussions of church structure, role, and conduct.
- Misproducing the first syllable vowel: indoors you might say /ˈklɪər.dʒi/ or /ˈklɜːr.dʒi/ with an extra /r/; aim for a compact /ɜː/ with minimal color before the /r/; practice with minimal pair /ˈklɜːr/ vs /ˈklɪə/ and build up. - The /dʒ/ cluster: some speakers insert a vowel (e.g., /ˈklɜːr.ji/); ensure you snap from /r/ to /dʒ/ cleanly without a vowel between; keep the tongue high for the palato-alveolar /dʒ/. - Final /i/ length: avoid a diphthong turning into /iː/ or /i/; keep a short actionable /i/ bite that lands on the last consonant; practice with slow ramp and then speed to natural pace.
- US: rhotic /r/ is pronounced; vowel may be slightly longer before /dʒi/. - UK: non-rhotic tendency reduces the vocalization of /r/ after the syllable nucleus; the /ɜː/ remains central; keep the /dʒ/ strong but not overly elongated. - AU: typically rhotic; vowel quality tends to be more centralized; the /ɜː/ remains robust but vowel length may be influenced by following syllable; ensure the /dʒi/ remains crisp.
"The clergy held a town hall to discuss community concerns."
"She studied the duties of the clergy for her theology degree."
"The village relied on the clergy for spiritual guidance during difficult times."
"They donated to the church because the clergy had saved many lives during the disaster."
Clergy comes from Middle English clerge, which itself derives from Old French clergie, and ultimately from the Late Latin clericatus, meaning ‘the clerical order’ or ‘the body of clergy.’ The Latin root cler- relates to teaching, priests, and religious instruction, traced to the Greek term kleros for ‘lot’ or ‘portion’ in some scholarly debates, but the ecclesiastical sense solidified in Latin as a class of ordained ministers. The word entered English in the medieval period when church offices and ranks became formalized within Christian institutions. Over time, clergy evolved to denote not just individuals (the clergy) but collectively, including bishops, priests, deacons, and other ordained church workers. In modern usage, clergy often appears with modifiers (the clergy of the church, the episcopal clergy) and is contrasted with laity and congregation. The term’s connotations can imply both authority and service, depending on context, denomination, and historical period, from medieval ecclesiastical hierarchy to contemporary church governance. First known use in English is documented in the 14th century, aligning with the organization of church orders into a formal clergy class.”,
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Words that rhyme with "Clergy"
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Pronounce it as /ˈklɜːr.dʒi/ in US and UK English; the first syllable has a stressed central vowel /ɜː/ (like ‘nurse’ without the r-colored quality in non-rhotic UK speech, but still with rhotics in US). The /dʒ/ is the soft J sound as in 'judge,' and the final /i/ is a short 'ee' sound. Tip: keep the /l/ light and clear just after the initial consonant cluster, then glide quickly into /dʒi/ without inserting a vowel between /r/ and /dʒ/.
Common errors include replacing /ɜː/ with a lax /ɜ/ or /ɪ/ in the first syllable, producing a weakly articulated or offbeat /r/ in non-rhotic variants, and misplacing the /dʒ/ or adding an extra vowel before /i/. To correct: keep the stressed vowel as a pure mid-central vowel /ɜː/ (or /ɜ˞/ in some US accents), ensure the /l/ is a light, immediate consonant rather than a vowel-like sound, and combine /dʒi/ tight with the preceding /r/ to avoid an intrusive vowel.
In US English, /ˈklɜːr.dʒi/ with rhotic rhotics; the /ɜːr/ cluster is a clear rhotic vowel. In UK non-rhotic speech, the /r/ is often less pronounced after the vowel, producing /ˈklɜː.dʒi/ with a weaker rhotic link. Australian English typically maintains a rhotic-like /r/ production in many speakers but with compact, clipped vowels; expect /ˈklɜː.dʒi/ with slight vowel lengthening before /dʒi/. Emphasize the quality of the /ɜː/ and the immediate /dʒ/ sound.
The challenge lies in the mid-back /ɜː/ vowel, the light but distinct /l/ immediately before a consecutive affricate /dʒ/; many speakers insert an extra vowel (like 'uh') or misplace the stress, particularly if speaking quickly. The /r/ can be tricky in non-rhotic varieties, and the lip/tongue posture must adjust rapidly from dark /ɜː/ to the palato-alveolar /dʒ/. Focusing on a clean transition from /r/ to /dʒ/ helps maintain accuracy.
Clergy is a two-syllable word with primary stress on the first syllable: CLER-gy. A unique aspect is the /ɜː/ vowel quality in the first syllable, which contrasts with many English words where the vowel is more fronted. Practicing a tight /l/ followed immediately by /dʒ/ helps avoid an incorrect /lj/ or /li/ sequence. Also, avoid adding extra vowels between /r/ and /dʒ/ to keep the two-syllable rhythm intact.
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- Shadowing: listen to a native speaker saying /ˈklɜːr.dʒi/ and repeat in sync; focus on exact timing between syllables; - Minimal pairs: /klɜːr.dʒi/ vs /klɜːr.dʒi/ (try contrasting with /klɜː.ɡi/ to feel stop vs. glide) – use two-syllable rhythm; - Rhythm: emphasize the stronger first syllable; practice 2-3 slow sequences, then normal pace; - Stress: keep primary stress on the first syllable, secondary stress none; - Recording: use a voice memo; compare with a dictionary pronunciation; - Context sentences: place clergy in varied contexts to feel natural usage.
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