2 syllables: fel, lows. Stress on fel.
/ˈfɛloʊz/
Say it backFellows is the plural of fellow, referring to men or people who share a common interest or circumstance, or to a group of colleagues. It can denote peers within a group, or members of a society or organization. The word suggests camaraderie or association, rather than a formal title. In practice, it often appears in phrases like “fellow students” or “fellows of the academy.”
"The fellows gathered in the courtyard after class."
"She is one of the youngest fellows in the fellowship program."
"The fellows debated the policy for hours."
Pronounce as FEL-ohz with primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈfɛl.oʊz/ (US) or /ˈfɛl.əz/ (UK). The first syllable uses a short e as in “bet,” the second is a long o sound in most dialects, ending with a voiced z. Keep the lips relaxed but rounded for the /oʊ/ diphthong, and finish with clear /z/ rather than a /s/ or any glottal stop. Audio reference: you’ll hear this in standard pronunciation resources and dictionary entries.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress, saying /ˈfɛlo/ with a weak final consonant; (2) Slurring the second syllable into a schwa, giving /ˈfɛləz/ instead of /ˈfɛloʊz/; (3) Saying /ˈfɛl.oʊz/ with a closed mouth on the /oʊ/ or mispronouncing the final /z/ as /s/. Correction tips: keep full /oʊ/ in the second syllable, avoid reducing to /ə/ in careful speech, and ensure voicing for /z/—don’t mistake it for /s/.
US: /ˈfɛloʊz/ with a distinct /oʊ/ and clear /z/. UK: /ˈfɛləz/ or /ˈfɛl.əz/, sometimes a shorter /ə/ in the second syllable; rhoticity is context-dependent. AU: similar to UK, often /ˈfɛləz/ but with Australian vowel quality that’s a touch more centralized and less intense than US. Across all, the final consonant is voiced /z/, not /s/, though rapid speech may reduce to a weaker /z/.
Key challenge is maintaining the contrast between /ɛ/ in the first syllable and the /eɪ/ or /oʊ/ glide in the second syllable, depending on dialect. The transition from a clear short vowel in the first syllable to the long diphthong in the second requires precise tongue advancement and lip rounding. Additionally, ensuring the final /z/ remains voiced in fast speech can be tricky, especially when adjacent to a sibilant or in connected speech.
Does the second syllable's vowel length differ when the word is stressed in rapid speech?
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US: rhotic, clear /oʊ/ and /z/. UK: more centralized /ə/ in second syllable; /z/ remains voiced but can be slightly softer. AU: vowel quality leans toward /ə/ or /ɐ/ depending on region; maintain /z/ voice. IPA references: US /ˈfɛˌloʊz/; UK /ˈfɛləz/; AU /ˈfɛləz/.
Fellows derives from Old English fēlaga, later Middle English felwe, and ultimately from the Proto-Germanic *faliwaz, connected to the concept of a companion or partner. The modern plural fellows appears in Middle English as folwer or felwe, influenced by the word fellow meaning ‘a man who shares a common experience or occupation.’ The term evolved to denote members of a group who share a common interest, status, or membership in a society (e.g., fellows of a college or academy). Over time, the sense expanded to include male and gender-neutral usage for members of learned societies. The word’s semantic shift reflects social bonding and professional fellowship, with first written attestations dating from the 13th-14th centuries in English legal and scholastic contexts, and broader social usage emerging in the early modern period. In contemporary usage, fellows commonly refers to a collective membership in educational, research, or professional organizations, often with implications of scholarship, collaboration, or achievement.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "fellows" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "fellows"
-ers sounds
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