2 syllables: grass, roots. Stress on grass.
GRAS-roots
/ˈɡræsˌruːts/
grassroots is pronounced GRAS-roots (/ˈɡræsˌruːts/). It has two syllables (grass-roots), with the stress on "grass". Grassroots refers to the most basic level of an organization or movement, originating from the ordinary members rather than leadership. It emphasizes community-based organizing, local participation, and bottom-up initiatives. The term captures authentic, widespread engagement at the local level as the seed of broader social or political change.
Grassroots refers to the most basic level of an organization or movement, originating from the ordinary members rather than leadership. It emphasizes community-based organizing, local participation, and bottom-up initiatives. The term captures authentic, widespread engagement at the local level as the seed of broader social or political change.
- You may drop the dash between parts and say grassroots as one run-on syllable. Slow down enough to land the /t/ clearly before /s/. - Your first vowel may flatten into a too-short /æ/ or too-long /aɪ/—aim for a crisp /æ/ (US) or /ɑː/ (UK/AU) before /s/. Use minimal pairs to train separation. - The /r/ can be over- or under-emphasized; US speakers should maintain a light rhotic /ɹ/ before /uːts/ so ROOTS remains clearly heard. Practice articulating /ɹ/ without lip rounding that bleeds into the next vowel. Tips: speak slowly at first, exaggerate boundaries, then fade to natural pace. Record yourself and compare with native references.
"The campaign’s strength came from its grassroots support, with volunteers canvassing neighborhoods door to door."
"Grassroots organizing often relies on local communities and volunteers rather than paid staff."
"A grassroots movement can influence national policy when it grows from widespread local action."
Pronounce as /ˈɡræsˌruːts/ in US and /ˈɡrɑːsˌruːts/ in UK/AU. Primary stress on GRASS, secondary on ROOTS. Start with a short, flat /ɡræs/ before moving to a longer /ruːts/ syllable. The second element rhymes with boots. Mouth positions: start with a wide mouth for /æ/, then tighten into /ruː/ with a rounded, tensed lip, ending with /ts/ crisp release. Listening reference: try native news speakers and model the rhythm after natural speech.
Common errors include merging the two parts into /ˈɡræsruːts/ without a clear separation, and under-articulating the /t/ at the end leading to /ˈɡræsruː/ or /ˈɡræsˌruːt/. Another pitfall is misplacing stress, saying /ˈɡræsˌruːts/ with weak first syllable emphasis. Correct by enforcing a distinct secondary stress on ROOTS and crisp /t/ release: /ˈɡræ sˌruːts/ (US: /ˈɡræsˌruːts/). Practice with minimal pairs focusing on syllable separation and final consonant clarity.
In US English, /ˈɡræsˌruːts/ with a lax /æ/ and strong /ruː/; the /t/ is typically a clear voiceless alveolar stop. UK/AU often present /ˈɡrɑːsˌruːts/ with a broader vowel in the first syllable (/ɑː/), and non-rhoticity isn’t typically relevant here since the word ends with /ts/. The primary stress remains on the first syllable, but vowel quality in /æ/ vs /ɑː/ differentiates accents. Australians may exhibit more centralized vowels in connected speech, but the final /ts/ is consistently crisp across accents.
Difficulties arise from the two-part structure and contrasting vowels: the first syllable uses a short front vowel in /æ/ (US) or a longer /ɑː/ (UK/AU), followed by a strong, rounded /ruː/ in ROOTS and a final clear /ts/. The rapid transition between these segments can blur the boundary, and the medium-stressed second syllable often becomes less distinct in casual speech. Practice with deliberate tempo to anchor the boundary and emphasize the /t/ release.
Unique to 'grassroots' is maintaining the crisp final /ts/ after a long /uː/ vowel in ROOTS. The /t/ should be released as a short, sibilant stop before the /s/ cluster, so you hear /-ts/. Also, keep the first syllable, /ˈɡræs/ or /ˈɡrɑːs/, clean and distinct from /ruːts/. IPA guidance: US /ˈɡræsˌruːts/, UK/AU /ˈɡrɑːsˌruːts/; ensure /r/ is clearly rhotacized in US and non-rhotic influence is minimal here.
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- US: emphasize rhotic /ɹ/ and clear /ruː/; neutral /æ/ or /ɒ/ influence depending on region. Monitor downstream /ts/ release. - UK: lean toward /ɑː/ in first syllable and a crisper /t/ before /s/; ensure non-rhotic influence doesn’t blur the /r/ after root. - AU: often élongated vowels and very clear final consonant cluster; keep /æ/ or /ɑː/ distinction and /ts/ release sharp. IPA reminders: US /ˈɡræsˌruːts/, UK/AU /ˈɡrɑːsˌruːts/.
Grassroots is a compound noun formed in the early 20th century, drawing from two simple English roots: grass as the vegetation at ground level, and roots as the source or origin. The phrase likely originated in American political and social discourse, where “grassroots” described movements seeded by ordinary people rather than by party leaders or elites. The term leverages imagery of growth from the ground up, emphasizing organic, neighborly action. Its meaning broadened from literal plant roots to metaphorical grassroots movements—organizations built from the base of a community rather than centralized institutions. Early usages appear in American journalism and political commentary around the 1910s–1920s, gaining prominence mid-century with civil rights and labor movements. By the late 20th century, “grassroots” became a standard descriptor in political science, sociology, and media, signaling authentic participation and decentralized mobilization. Modern usage often contrasts grassroots activism with top-down campaigns, and it is widely employed across political, environmental, civic, and non-profit contexts. The term remains a powerful shorthand for locally grounded, participatory change and is frequently paired with verbs like mobilize, organize, and empower to capture the energy of community-led action.
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Words that rhyme with "grassroots"
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