3 syllables: Co, yo, tes. Stress on yo.
keye-OH-tees
/kaɪˈoʊtis/
Coyotes is pronounced keye-OH-tees (/kaɪˈoʊtis/). It has three syllables (Co-yo-tes), with the stress on "yo". Coyotes is the plural noun for the coyote, a canine native to North America. In everyday speech, it can refer to the animal itself or to a group. The word is commonly pronounced with two syllables in American English, and the plural form follows standard English pluralization rules. How you pronounce it subtly depends on regional accent and speed of speech.
nounCoyotes is the plural noun for the coyote, a canine native to North America. In everyday speech, it can refer to the animal itself or to a group. The word is commonly pronounced with two syllables in American English, and the plural form follows standard English pluralization rules. How you pronounce it subtly depends on regional accent and speed of speech.
How to Pronounce Coyotes
"The coyotes howled at dusk near the desert outskirts."
"Populations of coyotes have adapted to urban environments."
"We heard a pack of coyotes while camping."
Pronounced /ˈkaɪ.oʊˌtiːz/ in US English (two main syllables if spoken quickly: /ˈkaɪ.oʊ.tiz/). The primary stress is on the first syllable. Begin with the long “i” sound in 'kai' (/kaɪ/), then a mid diphthong in the second syllable, and end with /tiːz/ or /tiːz/ for the final 'tes.' Tip: avoid turning the second syllable into a schwa; keep it as /oʊ/ plus a clear /tiːz/ at the end. Audio resources: consult native speech examples via Pronounce, Forvo, or YouGlish for variations.
Common errors include: (1) misplacing stress by pronouncing it as CAW-yotes or COY-otes with equal stress; (2) flattening the second syllable to a quick /ə/ or /ɪ/ instead of /oʊtiːz/. Correction: keep stress on the first syllable /ˈkaɪ/ and articulate the second syllable with /oʊ/ followed by /tiːz/. Practice with minimal pairs like ‘Ky-yo-tez’ vs ‘Ky-o-tes’ and use slow-to-normal tempo practice to lock the rhythm.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˈkaɪ.oʊtiːz/ with rhoticity affecting the initial /k/. UK speakers may produce a slightly shorter /oʊ/ or a more centralized /əʊ/ quality, and sometimes a non-rhotic ending where /z/ is devoiced. Australian English often features a broader diphthong in /aɪ/ and a less rounded /oʊ/, with a possibly less precise /tiːz/ ending. Overall, stress remains on the first syllable, but vowel qualities and r-coloring vary by region.
The difficulty lies in the three-segment structure: initial /kaɪ/ requiring a precise diphthong with jaw closing movement, a mid /oʊ/ in the second syllable that can easily reduce to a schwa in fast speech, and a final /tiːz/ that demands clear tongue-tip contact and sibilant friction. The plural adds a final voiced/voiceless s sound that often blends with the preceding /z/ or /s/, depending on tempo. Practicing slowly and segmenting helps establish stable articulation.
A unique question for coyotes is about the final 'tes' being /tiːz/ (voiced z) or a lighter /tiz/ depending on pace. In careful speech, end with /tiːz/; in quick, casual speech, listeners might hear a reduced /tɪz/ or even /təz/. The key is maintaining a distinct /tiːz/ cluster in careful enunciation and letting tempo reduce gradually in fluent speech.
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Coyotes originates from the Nahuatl word coyotl, which entered Spanish as coyote and was subsequently borrowed into English. The term appeared in English in the early 19th century, initially spelled coyote or coyoté in some texts. The word likely spread through American frontier dialogue and early natural history writings, aligning with an interest in regional fauna. The semantic core shifted from naming the animal itself to including plural and collective senses and, with urbanization, to refer to groups or packs as a social unit. The pronunciation evolved from a more Spanish-like coyote with a 'oy' diphthong to the modern English /ˈkaɪ.oʊtiːz/ or /ˈkaɪ.oʊ.tiːz/ realization, with regional stress and vowel quality variations emerging as American speech diversified. First known uses cite early descriptions of the animal from explorers who named it after the Nahuatl term, adapting it to English phonology and spelling conventions over time.
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Words that rhyme with "Coyotes"
-ies sounds
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