/ˈɡɹædʒəwəts/
graduates is pronounced /ˈɡɹædʒəwəts/. Graduates is a plural noun or verb form meaning people who have completed a degree or the act of completing a degree. In noun form, it refers to individuals who have earned a qualification; as a verb (third person singular or plural), it describes the action of completing a degree. The word can function in formal or informal contexts, often appearing in academic or professional discussions.
Say it backGraduates is a plural noun or verb form meaning people who have completed a degree or the act of completing a degree. In noun form, it refers to individuals who have earned a qualification; as a verb (third person singular or plural), it describes the action of completing a degree. The word can function in formal or informal contexts, often appearing in academic or professional discussions.
- You: You may naturalize the second syllable as /duː/ or /də/ instead of the reduced /u.ə/; fix by practicing with a brief schwa before the /ə/ and keeping the /dʒ/ crisp. - You: You might not fully articulate the /dʒ/, turning it into /dʒ/ with weak release; practice by saying 'judge' in isolation to lock the /dʒ/ release. - You: You could drop the final /ts/ in fast speech; work on ending with a crisp /ts/ to avoid trailing off.
"The graduates walked across the stage to receive their diplomas."
"Many graduates pursue further study or start their careers immediately."
"The graduates are invited to the alumni dinner."
Break it as /ˈɡrædʒ.u.əts/ (US/UK/AU share the core). The primary stress is on the first syllable: GRAH-joo-ats. Start with the /ɡ/ stop, then /ræ/ with a front lax vowel, move to /dʒ/ as in judge, then /u/ (schwa-like) or /ə/ before the /ts/ cluster, and end with /ts/ lightly. In careful speech, you can hear the full /u/ before the /ə/; in fast speech, the /ə/ can reduce. Focus on keeping the /dʒ/ affricate clear and not losing the following /u/ before the schwa.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress, saying /ɡræˈdʒuː.eɪts/ with the second syllable stressed. (2) Slurring /dʒ/ into /tʃ/ or overemphasizing the /u/ as /ju:/, producing /ˈɡrædʒuː.eɪts/. (3) Dropping the /t/ or converting to /ts/ badly, ending rhyme off. Corrections: keep primary stress on first syllable /ˈɡrædʒ.u.əts/, use a crisp /dʒ/ and a short /ə/ before /ts/. Practice minimal pairs around /dʒ/ and /t/; pause briefly before the /ts/ for clarity.
US: clear /ˈɡrædʒ.u.əts/, with rhoticity not affecting this word much; vowel in /æ/ as in cat is stable. UK: similarly /ˈɡrædʒ.u.əts/, but vowel qualities can be a touch more centralized in some regions; non-rhotic contexts do not affect this word’s ending. AU: often very similar to UK, with slight reductions in unstressed vowels, but still /ə/ before /ts/. The main differences lie in vowel quality and the degree of vowel reduction in the second syllable.
The difficulty centers on the /dʒ/ consonant cluster followed by a syllabic or reduced vowel and then a voiceless /ts/ at the end. The transition from the affricate /dʒ/ to the schwa-like /ə/ and then to /ts/ can create mis-timing or weak articulation. Also, keeping the primary stress on the first syllable while sequencing a light /ə/ before /ts/ challenges rapid speech. Practicing with slowed, deliberate enunciation helps fix the articulation.
There are no silent letters in 'graduates', but the challenge lies in the subtle vowel reduction in the second syllable and the final /ts/ cluster. The stress remains consistently on the first syllable: /ˈɡrædʒ.u.əts/. Voice the /dʒ/ clearly and ensure the /ɪ/ sound is avoided in the second syllable; use a light, quick /ə/ rather than a full vowel before /ts/. This ensures natural rhythm and accuracy in connected speech.
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- US: Keep rhotic sound unaffected; second syllable reduces to /ə/ or /uə/ depending on pace; practice with mock phrases like 'the graduates' to feel linking. - UK: The final /ts/ remains; reduce time on /u/; ensure non-rhotic accent doesn’t exaggerate the ending. - AU: Similar to UK; aim for a relaxed, quick /ə/ before /ts/ with crisp /t/ release; avoid adding extra vowel length.
Graduate comes from the Latin gravis, meaning heavy or serious, with -atus forming adjectives or past participles. The term evolved through Medieval Latin gradus (step, degree) into French graduer and then English graduate in the sense of attaining a degree. The plural graduates appears as the noun (people who have completed degrees) or as a verb form (they graduate). The first recorded use in English around the 14th–15th centuries carried the sense of moving up or advancing in rank or degree, gradually shifting to the modern sense of earning a degree. Over time, the noun plural graduates also took on professional and social implications, referring to individuals who have finished formal study, commonly in higher education, and who participate in commencements, reunions, and alumni networks. The word's semantic niche solidified in education and professional contexts, with cross-usage in many English-speaking regions, including the US, UK, and Australia, where graduation ceremonies and degree attainment are culturally significant markers of achievement.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "graduates" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "graduates" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "graduates"
-tes sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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