3 syllables: El, e, phants. Stress on El.
EL-uh-fuhnts
/ˈɛləfənts/
Elephants is pronounced EL-uh-fuhnts (/ˈɛləfənts/). It has three syllables (El-e-phants), with the stress on "El". Elephants is a plural noun referring to large, intelligent mammals with long trunks, tusks, and thick gray skin. The term is used for the animal as a species and, in plural form, to discuss multiple individuals. In everyday speech it can appear in contexts ranging from zoology and conservation to metaphorical use in phrases like 'the elephant in the room.'.
nounElephants is a plural noun referring to large, intelligent mammals with long trunks, tusks, and thick gray skin. The term is used for the animal as a species and, in plural form, to discuss multiple individuals. In everyday speech it can appear in contexts ranging from zoology and conservation to metaphorical use in phrases like 'the elephant in the room.'
"The elephants at the sanctuary are known for their social bonds and matriarchal leadership."
"Researchers tracked how elephant migrations adapt to seasonal rainfall patterns."
"The museum exhibit highlighted the ecological importance of elephants in savanna ecosystems."
Pronounce as /ˈɛl.ɪ.fənts/ in US and UK standard, with primary stress on the first syllable: EL-i-fants. In Australian contexts, many speakers reduce the middle vowel slightly, resulting in /ˈɛl.ɪ.fɒnts/. Focus on keeping the /f/ sound clear and the final /nts/ cluster as a quick, smooth release. For reference, listen to native speakers implementing minimal pause between syllables and a crisp /f/ transition into the /ə/ or /ɒ/.”,
Common errors include: (1) Skipping the middle /ɪ/ vowel, producing /ˈɛlfənts/ which compresses syllables; add the /ɪ/ to keep three syllables. (2) Mispronouncing the final cluster as /t s/ or /ts/ with an abrupt stop; instead, allow a light, quick /nts/ release. (3) Weakening the initial /ɛ/ to a schwa; maintain the bright /ɛ/ sound as in 'bet' to preserve correct stress. Practice by emphasizing each syllable: EL-i-fants. Regularly check a dictionary’s IPA and listen to native samples.
In US English, the word is /ˈɛl.ɪ.fənts/ with clear /ɪ/ in the middle, and non-rhoticity varies, but /t/ stays crisp and /nts/ clus ure. UK English tends to have a slightly broader /ɒ/ or /ə/ in some dialects; some speakers may reduce /ɪ/ to a shorter vowel; the rhythm remains trochaic. Australian English commonly exhibits a more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and may shorten / æ/ in some fossils, but generally retains /ˈɛl.ɪ.fənts/. Key: keep three syllables, ensure final /nts/ is not aspirated too strongly.
The difficulty comes from the three-syllable structure with a stressed first syllable, the sequence /ɪ.fə/ in the middle, and the final /nts/ consonant cluster. Speakers often drop the middle vowel, flatten the /ɪ/ into a schwa, or mispronounce the ending as /nt/ or /nts/. To overcome, practice the three distinct syllables: EL - i - fants, ensuring the middle vowel is voiced and the transition into /nts/ is smooth. Use slow practice and tongue-position awareness.
Because of its multi-syllabic, clastic ending and the risk of vowel reduction in fast speech. You’ll often hear native speakers compress the middle vowel and weakly release the final /nts/ cluster, which makes learners mispronounce 'elephants' as something like 'ell-fants' or 'el-uh-fants'. The unique challenge is maintaining the full three-syllable rhythm while keeping a clean final /nts/ release, especially in connected speech and rapid conversations.
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The word elephant comes from Old French elephants, from Latin elephantus, from Greek elephas (elephant-), with the root aorist form of the word for ivory or ivory-like luster. The Greek term likely derives from a Semitic root related to ‘eleph’ meaning ‘thick-skinned’ or ‘elephant’ and may have referred to the animal as well as ivory craft. In English, the form elephant entered via Old French during the medieval period, consolidating in Early Modern English. The plural elephants emerged with regular English pluralization -s, after the animal's taxonomy and natural history became widely discussed in the 18th and 19th centuries as colonial exploration and scientific discourse popularized zoological classification. Throughout history, elephant (and its plural elephants) has carried rich metaphorical weight in literature and speech, signaling size, memory, or weighty issues, leading to phrases like 'white elephant' and 'the elephant in the room.'
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Words that rhyme with "Elephants"
-nts sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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