2 syllables: fos, ters. Stress on fos.
/ˈfɔrstɚz/
Say it backFosters is the third-person singular present tense of foster, meaning to promote the development of someone or something, or it can refer to fostering as a noun/adjective in descriptive contexts. In practice, it denotes encouraging growth, care, or support, frequently used in institutions, projects, or family-related settings. The term is common in formal and informal writing when describing supportive actions or environments.
"The charity fosters young artists by providing stipends and studio space."
"She fosters a sense of curiosity in her students through hands-on activities."
"The organization fosters collaboration among international researchers."
In careful speech, the verb form is two syllables with primary stress on the first: /ˈfɔs.tərz/ in US and UK notations, slight rounding of the vowel in the second syllable, and a voiced /z/ at the end. In connected speech you may hear a light /ər/ reduced to a schwa, giving /ˈfɒ.stəz/ in some varieties, but the canonical form is /ˈfɔs.tərz/. Mouth positions: start with an open-mid back vowel for /ɔ/ or /ɒ/, then tip the tongue for /s/ and finish with a clear /z/ before a trailing /ərz/ with relaxed lips.
The most common mistakes are misplacing the stress (say /ˈfo.stərz/), mispronouncing the final /ər/ as a full /ɜːr/ in American English, and voicing the final /s/ as an /ɪz/ plural cluster. To correct: keep primary stress on the first syllable /ˈfɔs/ and lightly vocalize the final -ers as /ərz/, ensuring the /z/ is voiced. Practice with minimal pairs like /fɔs/ vs /fɒs/ and ensure the tongue sits slightly back for /ɔ/ and the tip bites the alveolar ridge for /s/ before voicing /z/.
In US English, /ˈfɔs.tərz/ with rhotacized /ɚ/ in the second syllable and clear /z/ energy at the end. UK English favors /ˈfɒ.stəz/ or /ˈfɔː.stəz/ with a more centralized or schwa-like second vowel and a softer /z/. Australian English typically uses /ˈfəː.stəz/ with a reduced first vowel toward a centralized /ə/ or /ɐː/ and a light, breathy final /z/. The key difference lies in vowel quality of the first syllable and rhoticity in the final cluster.
The challenge stems from the two-syllable rhythm and the transition from the stressed first syllable to the unstressed second, followed by the final /z/ cluster. The /ɔ/ vs /ɒ/ variation can confuse learners, and the subtle vowel length differences before the voiced final is easy to overlook. Additionally, the /ər/ or /əz/ ending in many dialects can merge, so keeping a clear /tər/ or /təz/ before the voiced /z/ helps clarity. Focus on the alveolar blend transitions and final voiced consonant.
A key nuance is the syllable boundary between the /fɔs/ and /tərz/ segments, which can vary in casual speech. Some speakers reduce the /t/ in fast speech to a flap or assimilate it toward a darker vowel before /z/. Pronouncing the medial /t/ clearly as a true alveolar stop in careful speech can differentiate /fɔs/ from /fɒs/. Also, ensure the plural-like ending /z/ remains voiced and not morphed into an /s/ in word-final position.
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US: rhotic, vowel in first syllable tends toward /ɔ/; final /z/ crisp and voiced. UK: non-rhotic or weak rhotic; second syllable often reduces to /əz/ or /əz/ with less pronounced r. AU: vowels tend toward centralized /ə/ or /ɐ/; final /z/ is voiced with relaxed jaw. IPA notes: US /ˈfɔs.tərz/, UK /ˈfɒ.stəz/ or /ˈfɔs.təz/, AU /ˈfəː.stəz/.
Foster originated in Old English as fóstor, related to fostering care and nourishment, and was connected to the act of nourishing a child or tendering support. The verb form foster emerged later, recording in Middle English usage as to foster or to feed and nurture. The meaning broadened through the 16th to 18th centuries to cover nurturing or promoting development in people, skills, or institutions, rather than just physical care. In modern English, foster as a verb is transitive, taking a direct object (a child, a project, a relationship), while as a noun it often refers to the act or system of fostering, or to the foster child in some contexts. Its first-known usage in print appears in legal and charitable contexts in the 15th–17th centuries, with the sense of “to rear and bring up” expanding to “to promote growth” by the 18th century. The term’s evolution reflects social changes in childcare, education, and institutional support, aligning with broader ideas of mentorship and development across cultures.
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Words that rhyme with "fosters"
-ers sounds
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