4 syllables: ex, am, i, ners. Stress on am.
ig-ZAM-in-urz
/ɪˈɡzæmɪnɚz/
examiners is pronounced ig-ZAM-in-urz (/ɪˈɡzæmɪnɚz/). It has four syllables (ex-am-i-ners), with the stress on "am". Examiners are individuals who assess, judge, or certify knowledge or performance, typically in formal settings such as exams or audits. The plural noun refers to multiple people performing such evaluation tasks. The term emphasizes authority, objectivity, and the act of scrutinizing answers, procedures, or results. Pronunciation centers on clear syllable-timed enunciation of the two stressed syllables: ex-AMI-ners.
Examiners are individuals who assess, judge, or certify knowledge or performance, typically in formal settings such as exams or audits. The plural noun refers to multiple people performing such evaluation tasks. The term emphasizes authority, objectivity, and the act of scrutinizing answers, procedures, or results. Pronunciation centers on clear syllable-timed enunciation of the two stressed syllables: ex-AMI-ners.
- You may flatten the second syllable, producing ex-uh-ME-ners; fix by emphasizing the /æ/ in /ˈzæ/ clearly and prolonging the /m/ before the final /ɚ/ or /əz/. - The final /z/ can be swallowed or devoiced in rapid speech; practice a full voiced /z/ with a crisp release. - The sequence /zæmɪn/ can sound like /zæmən/; ensure the /ɪ/ is heard clearly and the /n/ does not blend into the /z/; isolate the /m/ and /n/ with slight pause if needed.
"The examiners announced the passing results after a thorough review."
"Several examiners questioned the candidate about the methodology."
"The examiners compared notes to ensure consistency in scoring."
Pronounce as /ɪɡˈzæmɪnɚz/ (US) or /ɪɡˈzæmɪnəz/ (UK/AU). Stress falls on the second syllable: ex-AM-i-ners. Start with a quick /ɪ/ sound, then /ɡ/ as in 'go', then /ˈzæ/ with a crisp /z/; the middle syllable carries the primary stress and the /ə/ is a schwa-like vowel in the final syllable before /z/. End with a light, voiced /z/. Audio example: you’ll hear the stress on “AM.”
Two frequent errors: 1) Misplacing stress by saying ex-AM-i-ners with the wrong emphasis; 2) Merging the second and third syllables, making it exa-MI-ners or exa-mi-ners with weak /z/ or /n/; corrections: keep primary stress on the second syllable and clearly articulate /ˈzæ/ before the /m/; ensure the /n/ isn't swallowed in rapid speech, and end with a crisp /z/. Practicing with a slow tempo helps fix the rhythm.
In US, you’ll hear /ɪɡˈzæmɪnɚz/ with a rhotacized final syllable; UK/AU often omit linking r, producing /ɪɡˈzæmɪnəz/ and a softer /ə/ in the final syllable. Vowel quality in the second syllable remains /æ/; non-rhotic accents may drop r in the final position unless followed by a vowel. Australians may show slight vowel flattening and quicker /mɪn/ transition. Overall, the key is stress on the second syllable and precise /z/ ending across all three.
Two main challenges: 1) balancing syllable segmentation across four consonant clusters (g, z, m, n) in rapid speech; 2) producing a crisp /z/ at the end after /n/, which can blur in connected speech. The second syllable also houses a voiced consonant cluster that can be confused with /n/ or /m/ when speaking quickly. Focusing on the second syllable center and practicing a slow, deliberate pace helps; use a slight pause after /zæ/ before /mɚz/ to ensure clarity.
Yes—the primary stress on the second syllable (ex-AM-i-ners) and a clear syllable boundary between /æ/ and /m/ help prevent fusion. The final -ers is not pronounced as a separate syllable like in some words, but as schwa + r-colored or /ɚ/ or simply /əz/ depending on accent. Practicing the separation of /ˈzæ/ and /mɚz/ reinforces natural rhythm and reduces slurring.
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- US: rhotic final; ensure the /ɚ/ at the end is relaxed but voiced. Vowel /æ/ in the second syllable is short and crisp. - UK: non-rhotic; the final /ɜː/ is not present here; the ending is /ən/ or /əz/ with less r-coloring; keep the middle /æ/ bright. - AU: tends toward neutral r-coloring; keep a clear /z/; the middle syllable often shorter; avoid over-articulating /ɪ/ in /ɪn/. - IPA anchors: /ɪɡˈzæmɪnərz/ (US) vs /ɪɡˈzæmɪnəz/ (UK/AU).
Examiners originates from the verb examine, from Old French examiner, from Latin examinare, meaning to weigh, test, or prove. The root ex- (from Latin ex- ‘out, forth’) combined with aminus or amina (from examen ‘a test’) contributed to the sense of testing or weighing evidence. The English noun examiner emerged around the early 17th century to denote a person who examines or tests. Over time, usage broadened from a courtroom/official testing context to any person who inspects and evaluates work, performance, or qualifications. The plural form examiners follows standard English pluralization with -ers suffix. The word’s core meaning has remained stable: someone who examines and renders judgments or assessments. Early uses often appeared in legal or academic contexts, aligning with formal evaluation and evidence-based conclusions. As testing and certification expanded in modern times, examiners became common in education, professional licensure, and standardized assessments, reinforcing a role centered on inspection, verification, and credentialing.
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Words that rhyme with "examiners"
-ers sounds
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