2 syllables: Giz, zards. Stress on Giz.
GIZ-urdz
/ˈɡɪzɚdz/
Gizzards is pronounced GIZ-urdz (/ˈɡɪzɚdz/). It has two syllables (Giz-zards), with the stress on "Giz". Gizzards are the edible internal stomachs of birds, typically chickens or turkeys, used as food. In culinary terms, the gizzard is a muscular organ that grinds food. The plural form, gizzards, refers to more than one such organ or dish prepared from them. The term is familiar in rural or Southern cooking contexts and in recipes and menus featuring organ meats.
nounGizzards are the edible internal stomachs of birds, typically chickens or turkeys, used as food. In culinary terms, the gizzard is a muscular organ that grinds food. The plural form, gizzards, refers to more than one such organ or dish prepared from them. The term is familiar in rural or Southern cooking contexts and in recipes and menus featuring organ meats.
"I simmered the chicken gizzards with onions and spices for a rich, dark gravy."
"The gizzards are seasoned, breaded, and fried in some Southern-style eateries."
"She learned to clean and season the gizzards before slow-cooking them."
You say Gizzards as GIZ-erdz, with the primary stress on the first syllable. The IPA is US: ˈɡɪz.ɚdz, UK/AU: ˈɡɪz.ədz. Start with a clear G sound, then a short I as in ‘give,’ followed by a soft z sound and an -erdz ending. You’ll find the second syllable centers on a schwa-like vowel in UK/AU speech, so giz-zhuhdz, but US keeps a slightly tighter -ɚ-.
Common errors: 1) Mispronouncing the first syllable as a long 'gee' or 'gi' as in 'giant' — instead use a short /ɪ/ like 'giz.' 2) Slurring the second syllable into /dz/ without a clear -ə- or -ɚ- vowel; aim for a reduced vowel or rhotic schwa depending on accent. 3) Dropping the final /z/ or turning the final /dz/ into /d/ or /s/. Correct by practicing /ɪz.ɚdz/ or /ɪz.ədz/ with a light voiced alveolar fricative.
US tends to use /ˈɡɪz.ɚdz/ with a rhotacized middle vowel, ending in /ɚdz/. UK tends toward /ˈɡɪz.ədz/ with a clearer /ə/ in the second syllable and a lighter final /dz/. Australian often mirrors UK but with a broader /ɐ/ in the second vowel and a slightly less rhotacized ending. Listen for whether the /ɚ/ becomes a full /ə/ in non-rhotic accents and whether the final consonant has a crisp /dz/ vs. a softer /dz/.
Two challenges: the /ɪ/ in the first syllable is short and quickly followed by an /z/ cluster, which can blur to /z/ or /s/ for some speakers. The second syllable features a fast /ɚ/ or /ə/ before the final /dz/, which can be reduced differently by accents. The combination of an unstressed -ər or -əd vowel with a voicing change at the end makes stable articulation tricky; practice maintaining a crisp /dz/ finale while keeping the first syllable distinct.
Yes. In careful speech, you pronounce the plural as /-dz/ in the final consonant cluster, producing /ɪz.ɚdz/ or /ɪz.ədz/. In faster speech, the second syllable can reduce, leaning toward /ɪz.əz/ or /ɪz.dz/. The key is maintaining the stop at the end /dz/ while not merging the first syllable too tightly; keep the first syllable clear enough to hear the contrast with singular /ɡɪz.ɚd/.
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Gizzard derives from the Middle English giserde, from Old Norse giggr, related to the act of grinding or crushing. The word originally described the grinding chamber of birds, especially in the context of the crop and gizzard anatomy. In culinary usage, the term appears in English-speaking countries that historically relied on whole-animal cookery, including rural and agrarian communities where organ meats were common. The term has persisted into modern English in both American and British usage, with regional dishes highlighting gizzards as a delicacy or budget-friendly protein. The first known written references in English date to the 14th-15th centuries, but culinary references to gizzards as edible parts appear more clearly in 17th- to 19th-century cookbooks and farm diaries, reflecting their role in traditional fare and later in Southern American cuisine and soul food traditions.
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Words that rhyme with "Gizzards"
-rds sounds
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