One syllable: Germs.
jurmz
/dʒɝmz/
Germs is pronounced jurmz (/dʒɝmz/). It has one syllable (Germs), with the stress on "Germs". Germs are microscopic organisms, such as bacteria or viruses, capable of causing disease. The word also refers to a trace amount of something (as in “germ of an idea”). In everyday use, it typically denotes biological agents that can lead to illness, and is often discussed in medical or public-health contexts. The term is common in both clinical and general wellness discussions.
nounGerms are microscopic organisms, such as bacteria or viruses, capable of causing disease. The word also refers to a trace amount of something (as in “germ of an idea”). In everyday use, it typically denotes biological agents that can lead to illness, and is often discussed in medical or public-health contexts. The term is common in both clinical and general wellness discussions.
How to Pronounce Germs
"Doctors warned that untreated germs could spread in crowded spaces."
"The scientist isolated a germ culture to study its effects."
"Regular handwashing helps reduce transmission of germs."
Germs is pronounced with a soft initial /dʒ/ as in judge, an /ɜː/ vowel (like ‘fur’ without rhotacization in non-rhotic accents), and the final /mz/ cluster. IPA: US/UK/AU /dʒɜːrmz/ or /dʒɜːmz/. Emphasize the single syllable with stress on the only syllable. Mouth positions: start with the tongue raised near the palate for /dʒ/, then mid-central /ɜː/ with relaxed jaw, finish with lips lightly rounded for /m/ then a voiced /z/ with a brief vowel. Listen to natural samples to match timing.”,
Common mistakes include pronouncing as ‘germs’ with a hard hard-G initial or misarticulating the /dʒ/ as /ɡ/ or /j/. Another error is shortening the /ɜː/ to a short /ɪ/ or /e/; keep the tense, mid-central quality. Finally, the final /mz/ may be devoiced or reduced to /m/ or /z/ only in rapid speech—aim for a clear /mz/ blend. Focus on starting with the voiced palato-alveolar affricate /dʒ/, not a /g/ sound, and hold the /ɜː/ adequately before the /m/ and /z/.”,
In US English, /dʒɜːrmz/ features a rhotic /r/ and a clear /ɜː/ vowel before the /r/. UK English typically has non-rhotic rhoticity in careful speech—often realized as /dʒɜːmz/ with a weaker post-vocalic /r/ or silent in some variants in casual speech; AU English is rhotic, with a broader, slightly lowered /ɜː/ and a strong /z/ ending. Across accents, the central vowel quality and the presence of rhoticity influence the transition into the final /mz/. Listen to native samples to feel subtle timing differences.”,
The word challenges include the initial /dʒ/ affricate, which is often softened or misarticulated as /j/ or /g/ by non-native speakers, and the mid-central /ɜː/ vowel that can drift toward /ɪ/ or /ɛ/. The /mz/ cluster also requires precise voicing, avoiding a vowel reduction before the final consonant. Additionally, rapid speech may obscure the vowel and make the /rmz/ sequence blur. Practicing the complete /dʒɜːrmz/ sequence with clear articulation helps stabilize the pronunciation.”,
Germs uniquely blends an initial /dʒ/ with a relatively long /ɜː/ in a single syllable before a compact /mz/ ending. The r-controlled vowel quality interacts with a voiced alveolar nasal plus sibilant closure, requiring precise tongue positioning near the palate and calm jaw tension. It also offers a useful contrast to words like ‘germ’ (singular) and ‘girth’ to practice minimal pairs around rhotics and mid vowels. Focus on the full affricate onset and final voiced consonant clarity.
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Germ stems from the Old French germen, meaning seed or sprout, which entered English in the late Middle Ages. The Latin root germen shares a similar sense of ‘that which grows,’ and is related to germinare, to sprout. In early modern English, germs referred to buds or the origin of a plant or idea. By the 19th century, with advances in microbiology, germ began to denote a microorganism—the incubation seed of disease. The term’s shift to specifically signify microscopic biological agents accelerated in public health discourse as germ theory emerged, linking invisible organisms to illness. The modern sense—both the biological agents and the idea of a seed of something—reflects a metaphorical extension from “seed” to “cause of illness” and finally to general microbes. First known printed uses appear in medical writings of the 1800s as scientists described bacteria and contagion, while popular usage broadened in the 20th century to include viruses and colloquial references to germs in everyday life.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Germs" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Germs"
-rms sounds
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