3 syllables: com, pan, ions. Stress on pan.
kuhm-PAN-yuhnz
/kəˈmpænjənz/
companions is pronounced kuhm-PAN-yuhnz (/kəˈmpænjənz/). It has three syllables (com-pan-ions), with the stress on "pan". Companions are people or beings who accompany someone on a journey or activity, sharing experiences and providing support or company. In plural form, it refers to a group of such individuals. The term often conveys camaraderie, shared purpose, or mutual assistance, and is commonly used to describe friends, tour participants, or assistants who travel together.
Companions are people or beings who accompany someone on a journey or activity, sharing experiences and providing support or company. In plural form, it refers to a group of such individuals. The term often conveys camaraderie, shared purpose, or mutual assistance, and is commonly used to describe friends, tour participants, or assistants who travel together.
- you may tense your jaw too much on the /ɪ/ vs /eɪ/; keep a relaxed mouth to maintain the /eɪ/ diphthong. • Watch the /ə/ in the first syllable; it should be a weak schwa, not a full vowel. Practice with slow repetition of the word in isolation, then in phrases. • Ensure the /nj/ transition is smooth; avoid inserting extra vowels between /n/ and /j/.
"The hikers were joined by several companions who shared the route and the stories."
"Her companions during the conference networked with other attendees and exchanged contacts."
"The museum trip was enjoyable, thanks to the friendly companions who kept the group lively."
pronounced as /kəmˈpeɪn.jənz/. Break it into com- + pan + ions with primary stress on PAN: /ˌpeɪn/ as the stressed syllable. Start with a quick, relaxed schwa in the first syllable, then rise the pitch slightly on the stressed syllable. The final sibilant is /z/. Mouth positions: neutral lips for /k/ and /ɪ/ → glide into /m/ with closed lips, then /ˈpeɪ/ as a long vowel, followed by /n/ with the tongue against the alveolar ridge, and finish with /jənz/ where /j/ is a short y-glide and /z/ is voiced. Audio reference: try hearing /kəmˈpeɪn.jənz/ in dictionaries or pronunciation apps.
Common errors: misplacing the primary stress on the first syllable (com-PAN-ions) rather than the second, and reducing /eɪ/ to a short /e/ resulting in /ˌkəmˈpɛn.jənz/. Also, learners may make the final /z/ into /s/. To correct: keep the long /eɪ/ in the second syllable, ensure the /n/ before the /j/ is clear, and end with a voiced /z/ rather than voiceless /s/. Practice with minimal pairs and record yourself.
US tends toward rhoticity and clear /r/? Actually 'companions' has no rhotic /r/ here; US /kəmˈpeɪn.jənz/ vs UK /kəmˈpeɪn.jənz/; in non-rhotic accents the /r/ is not present; the vowel quality of /eɪ/ is similar, with slight length differences. Australian English tends to even more centralized vowels in some contexts; final /z/ remains voiced in all. The biggest differences are vowel height and diphthong duration: /eɪ/ can be slightly longer in American inventories, and the /ə/ in first syllable may be more reduced in casual UK speech.
Two main challenges: the diphthong /eɪ/ in the stressed syllable and the sequence /n.jə/ before the final /nz/. The /j/ subtly blends with /ənz/, so you need a tight transition from /n/ to /j/ to avoid a lisp or a vowel intrusion. Also keeping the primary stress on the second syllable while maintaining natural rhythm across the word can be tricky in connected speech.
A distinctive feature is the /n/ + /j/ cluster within the second syllable, producing a light y-glide before /ənz/; you should avoid inserting an extra vowel between /n/ and the /j/ to keep it tight, as in com-PAN-yons vs com-PAN-yənz. This helps maintain natural word rhythm and prevents a choppy pronunciation.
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Companions comes from Old French compagnon, from com- (together) + pan (bread) and ultimately from Latin Panis (bread). The sense evolved from “one who eats bread with you” to “a partner, associate,” emphasizing shared meals and unity. In medieval Europe, a companion was literally a person with whom you shared sustenance and shelter, indicating trust and alliance. The word entered English via Norman influence, solidifying its social and protective connotations. By the 14th century, companion had broadened to refer to traveling mates or attendants, and by the modern era, it commonly denotes a person who accompanies another, especially in travel, work, or social settings. The plural form companions follows standard English pluralization, adding -s to indicate multiple such associates. Throughout, the word keeps a warm, cooperative tone, implying companionship, loyalty, and mutual support.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "companions" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "companions"
-ons sounds
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