3 syllables: crim, i, nals. Stress on crim.
/ˈkrɪmɪnəlz/
Say it backCriminals 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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