3 syllables: crim, i, nals. Stress on crim.
KRIM-uh-nuhlz
/ˈkɹɪmənəlz/
criminals is pronounced KRIM-uh-nuhlz (/ˈkɹɪmənəlz/). It has three syllables (crim-i-nals), with the stress on "crim". Criminals refers to people who have committed serious crimes or offenses. The term can describe individuals collectively or discuss criminal activity in a general sense, often emphasizing lawbreaking behavior or a social issue. It is a plural noun used in formal and informal contexts to discuss crime rates, justice, or enforcement.
Criminals refers to people who have committed serious crimes or offenses. The term can describe individuals collectively or discuss criminal activity in a general sense, often emphasizing lawbreaking behavior or a social issue. It is a plural noun used in formal and informal contexts to discuss crime rates, justice, or enforcement.
"The criminals were brought to trial after the evidence was presented."
"City officials announced a new program to reduce gang-related criminals in the area."
"The report analyzed how different communities are affected by criminals and policing."
Pronounce as /ˈkrɪ.mɪ.nəlz/. The primary stress is on the first syllable: CRI-mi-nals. The middle syllable uses a short /ɪ/ as in 'kit', and the 'nəlz' ending sounds like /nəlz/ where the /l/ is light, and the final /z/ is voiced. For clarity: /ˈkrɪ/ as in 'crib' without the 'b', /ˈmɪ/ as in 'mitten', /nəlz/ where the 'le' becomes an unstressed schwa-ish syllable + /lz/.”,
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (e.g., /ˈkrɪ.mɪ.nəls/), pronouncing the middle vowel as a long /iː/ or as /ɪə/ (making it sound like crEE-min-als), and merging the final /l/ with the /z/ or dropping the final /z/. Correction tips: keep /ɪ/ in the second syllable (CRI-), pronounce the third syllable as /nəl/ with a light /l/ and a soft schwa, and voice the final /z/ clearly. Practice minimal pairs to stabilize the /nəl/ nucleus.
In US/UK/AU, the initial CRI- syllable is stressed in all: /ˈkrɪ.mɪ.nəlz/. Differences lie in rhoticity and vowel quality: US often preserves a rhotic /r/ preceding a vowel in non-final positions, but here the /r/ is part of the onset; UK/AU typically maintain non-rhoticity in some dialects, but since /r/ is before a vowel position, you may hear subtle variations in linking or the quality of /ɪ/ and the schwa in /nəl/. Overall, all three keep a short /ɪ/ in the first and second syllables; the final /z/ remains voiced.
Criminals challenges include the sequence /krɪˈmɪnəlz/ with three consecutive light syllables and a final voiced consonant cluster /lz/. The middle syllable uses a quick /ɪ/ that can blur in fast speech, and the /n/ followed by /əl/ can produce a 'nel' that many speakers compress unintentionally. Additionally, non-native speakers may mis-stress the -nals ending or mispronounce the -l before z. Focus on segmenting: /ˈkrɪ/ + /ˈmɪ/ + /nəl/ + /z/.
The word invites attention to the -nəl- cluster and the final voiced /z/. Unique questions often ask about the syllable-timed rhythm, subtle vowel differences in /ɪ/ and /ɪ/ in different dialects, or how to clearly distinguish the /n/ before /l/ vs. /n/ in smoother speech. A useful tip is to practice the transition from /l/ to /z/ with a very brief hold on /l/ before releasing into /z/ to prevent /l/ + /z/ erosion.
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The plural noun criminals comes from the Middle English criminel, derived from Old French criminel, which itself traces to Latin crimens, crimina, meaning ‘accusation, charge, crime.’ The path: Latin crimē (crime) + -inal from crīn-, related to “to accuse” in Latin. English adopted crimin- through Old French as crimen (crime) and criminel as ‘criminal’ to describe persons who commit crimes. The plural suffix -s expanded in parallel with other English pluralizations. The sense evolved from a general label for wrongdoing to a more specific class-based or behavior-based designation in law enforcement and social discourse. First known uses in English date back to early medieval law and glossaries, with robust usage developing in the 16th-18th centuries as modern criminal justice vocabulary formed. Over time, criminals became a standard term in criminology, journalism, and policy discussions, carrying connotations of illegality and accountability that color contemporary usage in many varieties of English.
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Words that rhyme with "criminals"
-als sounds
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