Gentry is a noun referring to people of high social standing, especially in a historical or regional context; more broadly, it denotes the upper class or landholding yeomanry in certain societies. The term implies a distinct social group perceived as refined or influential, often contrasted with commoners. It can also describe educated, genteel behavior associated with such a class.
"The local gentry attended the harvest festival and funded improvements to the village church."
"In literature, the gentry are depicted as guardians of tradition and property."
"She moved to a house owned by the gentry, enjoying privileges and social access."
"The novel follows a member of the gentry navigating political upheaval."
Gentry originates from Middle English genterie, from Old French gentor, gent, meaning of noble birth, from Latin gent-, gens (clan, tribe). The word originally described noble or nobleborne families and their lineage; over time its scope broadened to describe the socially superior landowning class in rural England and, by extension, similar aristocratic circles elsewhere. In early usage (13th–14th centuries), gentry distinguished a specific class within the broader knightly and noble tiers, often tied to property ownership rather than title alone. By the 17th–18th centuries, “gentry” referred to those deemed genteel and respectable, with expected manners, education, and social influence, even if not titled nobility. The term persisted into modern usage, sometimes carrying nostalgic or historical connotations, especially in literature and historical discourse about English rural society. First known written attestations appear in medieval legal and chronicler texts describing landholding classes and social hierarchies. In contemporary usage, it can describe a socioeconomic class or be used ironically or critically to reference pretensions of refinement.
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Words that rhyme with "Gentry"
-me) sounds
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Gentry is pronounced /ˈdʒɛntri/ in US and UK English, with the primary stress on the first syllable. The initial sound is the voiced postalveolar affricate /dʒ/ as in 'jeep', followed by /ɛn/ as in 'end', then /tri/ with a clear 't' and a light 'ri' ending. In casual speech, the final unstressed syllable may be reduced to /ri/ or /tri/ depending on tempo. For reference, you can listen to /ˈdʒɛntri/ in pronunciation tools or example videos.
Common mistakes include misplacing the initial /dʒ/ as a hard /j/ or /g/; confusing the /ɛ/ vowel with /eɪ/ as in 'day'; and softening or dropping the final /i/ in rapid speech. To correct: pronounce /dʒ/ as in 'jump' with the tongue bunched toward the palate, keep the /ɛ/ as the short e in 'bed' (not /eɪ/), and articulate the final /i/ as a clear 'ee' sound without extra schwa. Practicing with minimal pairs like 'gen—teen/ten-try' can help solidify the final /tri/.
In US accents, /ˈdʒɛntri/ with rhotic/ r-colored ending lightly influenced by following sounds. In many UK varieties, you’ll hear /ˈdʒɛntrɪ/ or a slightly reduced second syllable depending on the region, with non-rhotic tendencies affecting the surrounding speech, though the word itself remains fairly close to /ˈdʒɛntri/. Australian pronunciation typically mirrors /ˈdʒɛntri/ but with a more open front vowel in certain regions and clearer enunciation of the final syllable. Overall, the key differences are vowel quality and the degree of r-coloring and vowel length in the second syllable.
The difficulty often lies in the short vowel /ɛn/ followed by a crisp /t/ and the cluster /tri/, which can blur in rapid speech. Speakers may substitute /t/ or blend /ti/ into /əri/ (schwa), altering rhythm and clarity. Another challenge is maintaining the initial /dʒ/ sound distinctly from a /j/ or /g/. Focus on separating the consonant cluster /n/ and /tr/ and placing the stress on the first syllable while keeping the /i/ as a clear /iː/ or short /ɪ/ depending on the accent.
A unique aspect is the precise articulation of the /tr/ cluster immediately after /n/. Avoid a weak or gliding /tr/ and ensure the 't' is felt with the tongue touching the alveolar ridge before releasing into the /i/. This crisp alveolar-tap-like moment differentiates it from less sharp sequences in similar words and helps preserve the distinct two-syllable rhythm that marks gentry in fluent speech.
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