2 syllables: fil, lets. Stress on fil.
FIL-its
/ˈfɪlɪts/
fillets is pronounced FIL-its (/ˈfɪlɪts/). It has two syllables (fil-lets), with the stress on "fil". Fillets refers to boneless slices or strips of meat or fish, typically prepared from a larger cut. It can also refer to specialized strips of material or electronics in some contexts. In culinary usage, fillets are often kin to tender, lean pieces suitable for quick cooking. The term emphasizes deboned portions, usually with a delicate texture.
Fillets refers to boneless slices or strips of meat or fish, typically prepared from a larger cut. It can also refer to specialized strips of material or electronics in some contexts. In culinary usage, fillets are often kin to tender, lean pieces suitable for quick cooking. The term emphasizes deboned portions, usually with a delicate texture.
"The chef prepared salmon fillets for a quick weeknight dinner."
"She removed the skin and trimmed the fillets into even portions."
"In the recipe, the fillets were marinated before grilling."
Pronounce as /ˈfɪ.lɪts/ in US, with the first syllable stressed and a short 'i' in the second syllable. In UK usage, you’ll often hear /ˈfɪ.lɛts/ with the 'e' as a short 'e'. The AU variant aligns with UK pronunciation in most culinary contexts. Tip: emphasize the first syllable and make the second syllable quick and light. Listen for the subtle vowel quality difference between US (ɪ) and UK/AU (ɛ) in the second syllable.
Common errors: misplacing stress (saying fi-lets with even stress), pronouncing the second syllable as 'eh' or 'ay' instead of a short 'i' or 'ɛ', and merging the consonants too slowly. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, reduce the vowel in the second syllable to a short lax vowel (ɪ or ɛ depending on accent), and end with a crisp t-sound: /ˈfɪ.lɪts/ or /ˈfɪ.lɛts/. Practice with minimal pairs to tighten the final -ts.
US: /ˈfɪ.lɪts/ with rhoticity unaffected; UK/AU: /ˈfɪ.lɛts/ and more open second vowel, less centralization. The key accent difference is the second syllable vowel quality: US tends toward a shorter, lax 'ɪ' while UK/AU lean toward a short 'ɛ' (like 'bet'). The final consonant cluster is a clean 'ts' in all accents. Also, speed and vowel reduction in connected speech can affect perceived vowel quality in casual speech.
Because you need to coordinate a stressed first syllable with a quick, reduced second syllable and a clean final /ts/. The challenge is the transition from the vowel in the first syllable to the second, especially when the preceding word is long. The final /ts/ requires precise articulation to avoid a syllabic or glottal stop. Also, subtle vowel variation between /ɪ/ and /ɛ/ across dialects can cause hesitation.
The unique aspect is the phonemic shift in the second syllable vowel across dialects: /ɪ/ (US) vs /ɛ/ (UK/AU). Also, ensure you maintain the /t/ release for a clean -ts ending; avoiding a trailing /s/ or a softened /t/ is crucial. Listening to native recordings and mimicking the crisp final consonant helps; pronouncing /ˈfɪ.lɪts/ or /ˈfɪ.lɛts/ distinctly makes you sound natural in culinary contexts.
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Fillets comes from the French word filet, meaning a thread or yarn, and by extension a thin slice or strip. The culinary sense—boneless fish or meat fillets—emerged from the use of filet as a designation for a slender, deboned portion prepared for cooking. The root filet itself traces to Old French filet, from fil, meaning thread or strand; the sense evolved to indicate something thin and elongated like a filament. In English, fillet appeared earlier in reference to ropes or slender sections and later grafted into culinary vocabulary to describe deboned, trimmed cuts. The plural form fillets arose through standard English pluralization rules, often used in both fishing and butchery to indicate multiple boneless portions. Early cookbook usage alternated with fillet (the singular) and fillets (plural) as the technique of boning became more standardized in the 17th–19th centuries, spreading from French culinary tradition into English-language gastronomy. The word’s persistence reflects the consistent culinary emphasis on clean, boneless portions ideal for uniform cooking and plating.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "fillets" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "fillets" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "fillets"
-ets sounds
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