2 syllables: clus, ters. Stress on clus.
KLUHS-turz
/ˈklʌstɚz/
clusters is pronounced KLUHS-turz (/ˈklʌstɚz/). It has two syllables (clus-ters), with the stress on "clus". Clusters refers to groups or bunches of similar things gathered together. In linguistics, it can describe a sequence of consonants occurring together in a syllable, or more broadly, any assortment of items grouped closely. The term often implies a compact, tight collection. (2–4 sentences, ~60 words).
Clusters refers to groups or bunches of similar things gathered together. In linguistics, it can describe a sequence of consonants occurring together in a syllable, or more broadly, any assortment of items grouped closely. The term often implies a compact, tight collection. (2–4 sentences, ~60 words)
- Confusing the second syllable: many learners reduce /ər/ or /əz/ too much, making the word sound like /ˈklus.təz/ without the clear /ˈt/ release. Practice with deliberate pause between /klʌs/ and /tər/ to hear the belt of the /t/ and the following /ər/. - Slurring the /t/ into the /ər/ sequence: avoid blending /t/ and /ər/ into a dull /tər/; you should hear a crisp /t/ release before the vowel. - Mispronouncing the final /z/ as /s/: remember the final sound is voiced /z/; practice alternating /z/ with /s/ in short drills to feel the difference. - In non-rhotic accents, the /r/ may be weakened or omitted; ensure you’re aware of your dialect’s rhoticity and adjust to produce a recognizable /r/ in rhotic contexts. - Word boundary cues in fast speech: practice with sentence contexts to maintain the distinct syllable boundary and avoid running /kl/ into a following word.
"The city’s traffic clusters around the downtown core during rush hour."
"Linguists study consonant clusters in many languages to understand syllable structure."
"She wore a cluster of pearls on her collar for the gala."
Pronounce as /ˈklʌs.tərz/ (US). Primary stress on the first syllable. The first syllable uses the /ʌ/ vowel (as in 'strut'), the second syllable contains /ər/ in rhotic accents, and the final /z/ sound is voiced. Quick tip: keep the /s/ and /t/ consonants crisp, avoiding an over-voiced or slurred transition to /ər/. An audio reference from dictionaries or pronunciation tools can help confirm the rhythm and word-final voiced sibilant. IPA: US /ˈklʌs.tərz/, UK /ˈklʌs.təz/, AU /ˈklʌs.təz/.” ,
Common errors include: misplacing stress (e.g., smoothing to 2 syllables), pronouncing /ˈklʌstərz/ with a suppressed /r/ in non-rhotic speakers, and slurring the /t/ into the /ər/ sequence. Correction tips: keep the /t/ clearly released before the schwa-like /ər/; ensure the /r/ is pronounced in rhotic dialects; practice with a short pause between /ˈklʌs/ and /tərz/ to avoid fusion. Use slow, deliberate enunciation and minimal pairs like 'cluster' vs 'sluster' to cement the boundary.”,
US: /ˈklʌs.tərz/ with a clear rhotic /ɹ/ and a two-syllable rhythm. UK: /ˈklʌs.təz/ with non-rhotic /təz/ and a potential reduction of the second syllable; some speakers have a shorter /ər/ vowel. AU: /ˈklʌs.təz/ similar to UK, with a slightly flatter vowel quality and Australian vowel shift tendencies. Across all, the main variation is rhoticity and vowel quality in the second syllable: /ər/ vs /əz/ or /əz/?; ensure the final /z/ remains voiced. IPA cues: US /ˈklʌs.tərz/, UK /ˈklʌs.təz/, AU /ˈklʌs.təz/.
Two main challenges: 1) the /ər/ sequence can blur into a reduced vowel, blunting the rhotic sound in non-rhotic varieties; 2) staying precise with the /t/ release before the /ər/ without making the blend too abrupt or too gentle. The consonant cluster /kl-ʌs-t/ requires controlled timing to prevent assimilations like /klustərz/ becoming /klusərz/. Focus on a clean /t/ release, clear /r/ in rhotic accents, and consistent final /z/.
There are no silent letters in 'clusters.' Every letter contributes to the pronunciation: /k/ in /kl/, /l/ after the initial /k/, /ʌ/ vowel, /s/ producing the /s/ sound in the cluster, /t/ release, /ər/ or /əz/ depending on accent, and the final /z/ voiced sibilant. The challenge is not silent letters but ensuring the /t/ is released crisply and a distinct second syllable boundary is heard, especially in fast speech.
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- US: Emphasize rhotic /ɹ/ in the second syllable, keeping /ər/ as a rhotacized schwa; IPA: /ˈklʌs.tərz/. - UK: Often non-rhotic, so /ˈklʌs.təz/; the /ə/ in the second syllable tends to be weaker and more centralized, with a shorter vowel quality. - AU: Similar to UK but with a broader vowel quality; keep the second syllable /tə/ more open and less centralized; IPA cues: /ˈklʌs.təz/. - General tips: seat your tongue for /kl/ cluster with the blade near the alveolar ridge; for /ʌ/, drop jaw slightly; for /t/, make a crisp stop release; for /ər/ (rhotic) or /əz/ (non-rhotic), adjust lip rounding and tongue retraction; finally, keep the /z/ voiced and breathier than the /s/.
Clusters originates from the early modern English word cluster, derived from the Latin word crāstina (bundle) through Old French cluster. The sense evolved from “a bunch or grouping” to denote any close gathering of things, including natural phenomena like clouds or stars, and figuratively in data sets or social groups. The word’s earliest attestations appear in Middle English texts around the 14th century, with usage expanding in the 16th–19th centuries to cover both tangible bunches and abstract groupings. Over time, “clusters” gained the specialized sense in computing and linguistics for contiguous elements (e.g., consonant clusters). The modern sense—an organized aggregation of items—reflects this broadened metaphorical trajectory while retaining the core idea of close proximity and unity within a larger set.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "clusters" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "clusters"
-ers sounds
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