2 syllables: gib, bons. Stress on gib.
GIB-inz
/ˈɡɪbɪnz/
gibbons is pronounced GIB-inz (/ˈɡɪbɪnz/). It has two syllables (gib-bons), with the stress on "gib". Gibbons refers to small arboreal apes with long arms and agile movement, found in tropical forests of Asia. The term can also denote the plural form of 'gibbon' when referring to multiple individuals. In context, it describes a primate species known for brachiation, and it may appear in zoological, ecological, or behavioral discussions. A specialized term in biology and wildlife studies.
Gibbons refers to small arboreal apes with long arms and agile movement, found in tropical forests of Asia. The term can also denote the plural form of 'gibbon' when referring to multiple individuals. In context, it describes a primate species known for brachiation, and it may appear in zoological, ecological, or behavioral discussions. A specialized term in biology and wildlife studies.
- Common mistake: treating the /ɪ/ in the first syllable as a long /i:/ (as in 'gibbon' vs 'gib-bins'). Correction: keep /ɪ/ short and crisp, like in 'kit'. - Mistake: over-clarifying the second syllable as /ɪ/ instead of a reduced /ə/. Correction: relax the second syllable to a schwa before the final /nz/. - Mistake: mispronouncing /dʒ/ as /ɡ/ or /j/; Correction: produce a true affricate by quickly releasing the tongue from the palate after front-closure, like 'judge'. - Mistake: final /nz/ blending with /z/ or /s/, causing a hiss. Correction: end with a crisp /nz/ without adding extra sibilant after.
"The gibbons swung gracefully through the rainforest canopy, their long arms a perfect adaptation for brachiation."
"Researchers studied the vocal duets of gibbons to understand social bonding in forest communities."
"Several gibbons at the sanctuary displayed remarkable agility, leaping branch to branch."
You say /ˈdʒɪbənz/. Stress on the first syllable: GIB-uhns (or GIB-uhnz in natural speech). The initial phoneme is /dʒ/ as in judge, followed by /ɪ/ as in kit, then a light /b/ and a schwa /ə/ before the final /nz/. Keep the final z softly voiced. Audio references: Cambridge/MyDictionary or Forvo entries can help hearing the exact /ˈdʒɪbənz/.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (saying giBbonz), pronouncing the initial as /g/ instead of /dʒ/, and overemphasizing the second syllable. Correct by keeping primary stress on the first syllable and ensuring the /dʒ/ sound is affricated like in 'judge'; the second syllable should be a weak /ə/ leading into a soft /nz/. Practice with minimal pairs like 'gi-bon' vs 'gibbon' in isolation.
All three share /ˈdʒɪbənz/ as baseline, but rhoticity can tint the vowel colors: US tends to clearer /ɪ/ and a slightly longer /ə/; UK often more clipped /ˈdʒɪ.bənz/ with a softer /ə/; AU similar to UK but with a more centralized vowel and a slightly flatter intonation. The final /z/ may be pronunced as a voiced /z/ in all, but articulation can feel lighter in Australian speech.
Two main challenges: the /dʒ/ onset requires a quick front-closure of the tongue against the palate, which some speakers merge with /j/ or /tʃ/. The second is the post-stressed schwa /ə/ before the final nasal /nz/—a subtle, reduced vowel that can become a clearer /ɪ/ or /o/ if enunciated. Practicing with minimal pairs helps stabilize the /dʒ/ and the weak vowel.
No letters are silent in standard pronunciation. Each letter contributes to the sound: /dʒ/ onset, /ɪ/ vowel, /b/ consonant, /ən/ reduced nucleus, and /z/ final. The second syllable’s vowel is a reduced schwa, not fully pronounced like ‘gin’. Focus on the clean /dʒ/ onsets and the final z.
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- US: clearer /ɪ/ in the first syllable, maintain rhotic-free color in the /ə/ of second syllable; IPA: /ˈdʒɪ.bənz/ - UK: slightly clipped /ɪ/ and a softer, more centralized /ə/; less stress on the second syllable; /ˈdʒɪ.bənz/ - AU: vowels lean toward centralized, with slightly broader mouth shapes; final /z/ sometimes devoiced slightly; /ˈdʒɪ.bənz/ remains dominant. - Pay attention to tongue tension: keep front-of-mouth openness for /dʒ/; relax the jaw for /ə/; end with a light, audible /z/.
The word gibbon comes from Middle English gibbon, possibly derived from an artificial or children’s term with uncertain origin. The scientific group Hylobatidae, to which gibbons belong, derives from Greek hyl- ‘wood’ and boatē ‘foot’ or ‘feet,’ though exact roots are debated. The term was adopted in the 18th–19th centuries as Western natural history expanded, aligning common usage with the scientific family name. First recorded English references appear in travelogues and natural history texts describing Southeast Asian wildlife, evolving into standard zoological nomenclature by the late 1800s, when Linnaean taxonomy solidified family names such as Hylobatidae and genus names Hylobates, Nomascus, and others. Over time, “gibbon” shifted from generic wild ape references to denote the small, brachiating arboreal apes of Asia, with popular culture and media further branding the term. In modern usage, “gibbons” is the plural form used in zoological, conservation, and anthropological contexts. The etymology reflects a blend of descriptive, traditional, and taxonomic influences that track the animal's niche in tropical forests.
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Words that rhyme with "gibbons"
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