exoplanets

Pronounce as /ˌeks.oʊˈplæn.ɪts/ (US) or /ˌeks.əʊˈplæn.ɪts/ (UK). It’s a three-syllable word with primary stress on the third syllable of the root 'planets' and a secondary stress on the first syllable. Begin with ‘ex-’ [eks] followed by ‘o’ [oʊ] or [əʊ], then ‘plan-’ with the short a as in ‘cat’ and end with ‘-ets’ sounding like /-ɪts/. For careful enunciation, keep /plæn/ distinct from the preceding schwa, and avoid reducing the vowel in ex- or o- too aggressively. See audio references in Pronounce for guided articulation.

Common errors include conflating the second syllable: saying /ɪkˈsəʊ.plæ.nɪt/ or merging /plæ/ with /nɪts/. Some speakers depress the second syllable too much, producing /ɪk-ˈsoʊ-plee-ənz/ or misplacing primary stress on the 'exo' part. Another frequent mistake is pronouncing the final /ts/ as a hard /s/ without the crisp /t/ release. Correct by clearly releasing the /t/ in -ets and keeping /æ/ as in ‘cat’ for the /plæn/ syllable. Rehearse with slow articulation, then speed up while maintaining distinctions.

In US, you’ll hear /ˌeks.oʊˈplæn.ɪts/ with a rhotic /r/ optional in the preceding vowel cluster and a clear /oʊ/ diphthong. UK typically uses /ˌeks.əʊˈplæn.ɪts/ with a slightly reduced /ɔ/ in the second syllable and non-rhoticity, so the r is silent in many environments, though the preceding vowel may be more centralized. Australian speech often aligns with non-rhotic patterns like UK, but vowels can be broader; you may hear /ˌeks.ɒˈplæ.nets/ depending on the speaker and regional vowel shifts. The core stress pattern remains on the third syllable, but vowel quality subtly shifts by dialect.

The difficulty comes from blending three syllables with a cluster in the middle: /ˌeks.oʊˈplæn.ɪts/. The /k s/ sequence at the start plus the /plæ/ cluster requires precise lip and tongue control; the final /ɪts/ must be released crisply to avoid sounding like /-ɪts/ or /-ɡz/ blends. Stress placement across the word is also tricky: the primary stress sits on the third syllable, which can feel counterintuitive if you’re used to longer words. Practicing with careful movement of the jaw and a clear /t/ release helps stability.

There are no silent letters in the standard pronunciation of exoplanets. Each letter contributes to the syllables: ex-o-plan-ets. The initial x functions as the /ks/ cluster in ‘ex-’, the o as a separate vowel, and the -ets ending includes a fully realized /t/ release. Paying attention to the final /t/ helps avoid an elongated or omitted ending. This word is syllabic and consistently enunciated in technical contexts.