2 syllables: e, lites. Stress on lites.
il-EETS
/ɪˈlits/
elites is pronounced il-EETS (/ɪˈlits/). It has two syllables (e-lites), with the stress on "lites". Elites refers to a small, privileged group regarded as superior in status, power, or ability. The term commonly denotes people who exert outsized influence within a society or organization, often perceived as disconnected from the general population. It can carry neutral, admiring, or critical connotations depending on context and tone.
Elites refers to a small, privileged group regarded as superior in status, power, or ability. The term commonly denotes people who exert outsized influence within a society or organization, often perceived as disconnected from the general population. It can carry neutral, admiring, or critical connotations depending on context and tone.
- Misplacing stress on the first syllable: Say /ˈɛl.ɪts/ instead of /ɪˈliːts/. Ensure the second syllable carries the main stress. - Shrinking the /iː/ to a shorter vowel, producing /ɪ/ or /i/; keep a full, tense /iː/ for the stressed syllable. - Weakening the final cluster to /ts/ or /t/; practice crisp /ts/ release by starting at alveolar ridge and releasing into a hissing /s/ sound.
"The elites in the tech sector funded the new research initiative."
"Critics argued that elite universities concentrate power and prestige."
"While the elites debated policy, the broader public awaited practical solutions."
Pronounce as /ɪˈliːts/. The first syllable is unstressed: 'ih', and the second syllable carries primary stress: 'leets' with a long i: /iː/. Ensure the mouth slightly raises the tongue to a high front position for /iː/ and end with a crisp /ts/ cluster. You can listen to native examples on Pronounce or Forvo for confirmation.
Common errors include reducing /ɪ/ to a lax schwa before a stress, saying /eɪ/ instead of /iː/ in the second syllable, and producing a vague /t/ or /s/ without a crisp /ts/ onset. Correct by starting with a short, lax /ɪ/ in the first syllable, then glide into a long /iː/ with the tongue high and forward, finishing with a crisp /ts/ without releasing into a stop. Practice the final cluster slowly: /iːts/.”
In US and UK English, the second syllable has primary stress: /ɪˈliːts/, with a clear long /iː/ and final /ts/. Australian English typically mirrors the non-rhotic preference but retains /ɪˈliːts/ with a slightly shorter vowel duration and a more aspirated /t/ depending on speaker. Across accents, rhotics influence the preceding vowel quality subtly; but the core vowel in the stressed syllable remains a long /iː/.
The challenge centers on the two-syllable structure with a stressed second syllable and the final /ts/ cluster. The long /iː/ in the second syllable requires precise tongue height and a sharp release into /ts/. Many learners also misplace stress or blur the final consonant cluster, producing /iːt/ or /iːz/. Focus on establishing the /ɪ/ in the first syllable as unstressed, then lift into a clean /iː/ and finish crisply with /ts/.”
Elites has no silent letters and follows a predictable two-syllable pattern with secondary syllable stress none; the primary stress is stress on the second syllable. The main learning point is producing the long /iː/ in the stressed syllable and ensuring a precise /t/ to /s/ transition in the final onset. It’s not silent, but the first syllable reduces to /ɪ/ and the second syllable is emphasized: /ɪˈliːts/.
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- US: rhoticity affects vowel coloring; keep /ɪ/ before /ːliːts/ compact and avoid adding extra rhotic influence. - UK: non-rhotic tendency; ensure final /ts/ is audible even with softer post-vocalic r absence. - AU: tends toward vowel shortening and slightly broader diphthongs; still keep /ˈliːts/ with clear /ts/ final. IPA references: US /ɪˈliːts/, UK /ɪˈliːts/, AU /ɪˈliːts/.
Elites derives from the French word elite, itself from late Latin eligere, meaning to select or choose. The noun elite emerged in English in the 18th century to refer to the group chosen or distinguished by rank, wealth, or power. It carried a somewhat neutral tone in its earliest uses, simply denoting “the chosen ones.” Over time, the word acquired more evaluative readings, implying distinction or privilege beyond mere selection. In modern usage, elites may describe political, economic, intellectual, or cultural leaders who wield disproportionate influence. The sense of separation between elites and the general populace often informs political rhetoric and sociological discussion, shaping how the term is perceived in debates about inequality, governance, and social mobility. First known uses appear in Classical-influenced texts and French political discourse, with English adoption accelerating in the 19th and 20th centuries as social hierarchies became more explicit in public life.
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Words that rhyme with "elites"
-ets sounds
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