2 syllables: grand, son. Stress on grand.
GRAND-suhn
/ˈɡɹænˌdsʌn/
grandson is pronounced GRAND-suhn (/ˈɡɹænˌdsʌn/). It has two syllables (grand-son), with the stress on "grand". Grandson is the male grandchild. In everyday use, the term denotes a son’s or daughter’s male offspring, framing a family relationship across generations. It’s a common, neutral noun in both formal and informal speech, often preceded by possessives or articles (my grandson), and used in a range of contexts from affection to genealogical discussion.
Grandson is the male grandchild. In everyday use, the term denotes a son’s or daughter’s male offspring, framing a family relationship across generations. It’s a common, neutral noun in both formal and informal speech, often preceded by possessives or articles (my grandson), and used in a range of contexts from affection to genealogical discussion.
"My grandson just started kindergarten and loves dinosaurs."
"We’re visiting my grandson this weekend and bringing his favorite cookies."
"The photo album includes candid shots of my grandson’s first steps."
Pronounce as GRAN-d-sən, with a reduced second syllable: /ˈɡræn(d)sən/ in US; /ˈɡræn(d)sən/ in UK; /ˈɡræn.dsn̩/ in AU. Stress the first syllable. The middle /d/ links the two consonant clusters, and the final -son is a syllabic or reduced schwa in many rapid utterances. Mouth position: start with a broad open front vowel for /æ/, then quickly flap or stop the /d/, followed by a light nasal /n/ and a weak schwa or syllabic /n/.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress on the second syllable, saying granDSON; (2) Over-pronouncing the final -son as /sɔn/ with a long vowel, instead of a short /sən/ or syllabic /sn̩/; (3) Slurring the /d/ and /s/ into one cluster leading to /grænsɔn/ or /grændzən/. Correction: keep /æ/ in the first syllable clear, insert a crisp but brief /d/ before the nasal, then relax into a quick /s/ and a light /ən/ or /ən/ depending on dialect. Practice slow, then faster, focusing on the /n/ release.
In US English, expect /ˈɡræn(d)sən/ with a rhotic influence and a short, reduced final syllable; the /ˈd/ is lightly released. UK English often features a less pronounced /r/ and a more fronted /æ/, with final syllable closer to /sən/; Australian tends toward a slightly more centralized /ə/ in the final vowel and a crisp /d/ release before /sən/. All share the first stress on GRAN-. IPA notes: US /ˈɡræn(d)sən/, UK /ˈɡræn(d)sən/, AU /ˈɡɹæn(d)sən/.
Two primary challenges: (1) the /æ/ vowel can be merged with a more neutral schwa for non-native speakers, reducing distinctiveness; (2) the /nd/ cluster followed by /s/ can blur in fast speech, causing a sequence like /n d s/ to slip. To address, practice isolating the /æ/ in GRAN, insert a brief but audible /d/ before the /s/ cluster, and rehearse with a short pause after /græns/ before the final schwa or syllabic /n/.
There are no silent letters in grandson, but the stress is consistently on the first syllable GRAN-, with the second syllable containing a reduced or syllabic consonant /sn̩/ or a short /sən/ depending on accent. The /d/ is typically heard as an alveolar stop before the /s/ cluster, and the final /n/ is pronounced even in rapid speech. Mastery comes from ensuring the first syllable remains prominent while the ending stays light and quick.
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Grandson derives from Middle English grand-son, combining grand (from Old French grant, grande, meaning ‘great, large’ and serving as a clue to generations) with son (Old English sunu). The term likely emerged to distinguish a son of one’s child as a distinct familial role from the broader genealogical term grandson. In the transition from Old English to Middle English, grand- as a familial modifier gained frequency with the expansion of kinship terminology, aligning with other generational terms like granddaughter and great-grandson. Early textual attestations appear in genealogical records and chronicles from the late medieval period, with the compound gradually stabilizing in Modern English. By the 16th–18th centuries, grandson had become a standard, widely used noun in both spoken and written form, carrying affectionate and formal connotations depending on context. The word maintains a clear, unambiguous function in identifying a family line’s younger generation and is typically preceded by possessive determiners or articles to indicate ownership or relation (my grandson, the grandson). The development reflects broader patterns in kinship vocabulary where generational prefixes attach to familial nouns, reinforcing clear relational roles in social and legal discourse. In contemporary usage, grandson is ubiquitous across dialects and registers, retaining its gender-specific precision alongside nearby terms like granddaughter and grandson-in-law in extended family references.
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Words that rhyme with "grandson"
-son sounds
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