4 syllables: con, ser, va, tives. Stress on ser.
kuhn-SUR-vuh-tivz
/kəˈnsɝvətɪvz/
conservatives is pronounced kuhn-SUR-vuh-tivz (/kəˈnsɝvətɪvz/). It has four syllables (con-ser-va-tives), with the stress on "ser". Conservatives refers to people or groups that advocate preserving traditional social institutions and practices, often resisting rapid change or reform. In political contexts, it denotes supporters of conservative parties or ideologies. The term emphasizes restraint, continuity, and gradualism in policy and governance.
Conservatives refers to people or groups that advocate preserving traditional social institutions and practices, often resisting rapid change or reform. In political contexts, it denotes supporters of conservative parties or ideologies. The term emphasizes restraint, continuity, and gradualism in policy and governance.
"The conservatives argued for a cautious approach to fiscal reform."
"Conservatives in the party conference stressed traditional values."
"A coalition of conservatives and moderates shaped the budget proposal."
Pronounce as /kənˈsɜːr.və.tɪvz/ (US) or /kənˈsɜː.və.tɪvz/ (UK/AU). Primary stress on the second syllable, SER in 'ser' sounds like 'sir' without the r-coloring in non-rhotic accents. The ending '-atives' is /-ə.tɪvz/. Pay attention to the 'con-' reduced vowel /kə/ and the rhotacized /ˈɜːr/ in rhotic accents. Segment slowly: kən-ˈsɜːr.və-tɪvz, then speed up with smooth linking: kənˈsɜːrvətɪvz.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress on the first or third syllable; 2) Pronouncing 'ser' as /sɛr/ or with over-enunciated /r/ in non-rhotic accents; 3) Flattening the /ˈsɜːr/ to /ˈsɜːr/ without linking. Correction: keep primary stress on second syllable, produce /ˈsɜːr/ with a relaxed rhotic vowel in rhotic accents, and link the /v/ from '-vates' to the preceding syllable: kən-ˈsɜːr.və-tɪvz.
US: rhotacized /ˈsɜːr/ with clear /r/. UK/AU: /ˈsɜːvətɪvz/ or /ˈsɜːvətɪvz/ with non-rhoticity in some speakers, but many UK speakers retain linking /r/ in connected speech. The sequence '-vatives' reduces toward /və.tɪvz/ in faster speech; vowel length on /ɜː/ varies by speaker. Overall rhythm shifts: US tends to slightly longer /˜ɜːr/; UK/AU may show lighter /ɜː/ and stronger vowel reduction in unstressed syllables.
Difficult due to the cluster /sɜːr/ following a reduced /kən/, and the unstressed -vatives sequence that blends to /və-tɪvz/. The blend of 'con-' vowel reduction, the rhotacized center, and the final voiced plural ending /-vz/ can trip non-native speakers. Practice by isolating syllables, then linking them with soft /ə/ and minimal vowel duration changes to achieve smooth, natural rhythm.
Does the /s/ in 'con' connect to the /k/ in the next syllable to create a seamless onset? In fluent speech, the first syllable is reduced to /kən/, and the onset of the second syllable is /ˈsɜːr/ with a rapid transition from the reduced schwa to the rhotic vowel, so many speakers effectively blend /kənˈsɜːr/ without a strong pause.
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Conservatives derives from the Latin conservare, meaning to preserve, guard, or maintain. The term entered English in the 17th and 18th centuries in political discourse to describe factions favoring preservation of established institutions. It is built from con- 'with, together' and servare 'to preserve, save' (root: serv-). The modern political sense emerged in the 19th century with the Conservative Party in Britain established by Sir Robert Peel, who promoted gradual reform and continuity after the upheavals of the Napoleonic era. The adjective conservative originated earlier, capturing the impulse to conserve or conserve- act or ideology. In the United States, “conservatives” referred to advocates of limited government and traditional moral values by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, crystallizing during the responses to industrialization and social change. The word’s meaning has evolved with political landscapes, but the core sense remains: a preference for preserving existing social orders, cautious reform, and skepticism toward rapid, systemic change.
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Words that rhyme with "conservatives"
-ves sounds
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