3 syllables: gua, ran, tors. Stress on tors.
ger-uhn-TAWRZ
/ˌɡɛɹəˈntɔɹz/
guarantors is pronounced ger-uhn-TAWRZ (/ˌɡɛɹəˈntɔɹz/). It has three syllables (gua-ran-tors), with the stress on "tors". guarantors (n.) plural of guarantor — individuals or entities who assume responsibility for another’s obligations, typically in contracts or loans. They guarantee performance or debt, providing security to lenders. The term implies formal assurance, financial backing, and accountability, often requiring clear articulation to avoid misunderstanding in legal or financial contexts.
guarantors (n.) plural of guarantor — individuals or entities who assume responsibility for another’s obligations, typically in contracts or loans. They guarantee performance or debt, providing security to lenders. The term implies formal assurance, financial backing, and accountability, often requiring clear articulation to avoid misunderstanding in legal or financial contexts.
"The guarantors signed the agreement to back the borrower's obligations."
"Banks require guarantors to demonstrate adequate creditworthiness."
"If the borrower defaults, the guarantors are legally obligated to satisfy the debt."
Pronounced /ˈɡærənˌtɔːrz/ in UK and US. The first syllable bears primary stress: GARE-un. The middle syllable reduces to a schwa, /ə/. The final /tɔrz/ rhymes with ‘hosts’ in many accents, though many speakers voice it as /-tɔːrz/ with a rounded back vowel before the r-coloring in American English. Keep the /r/ sound clear in rhotic accents. See audio guidance: listen for the subtle /ɔː/ in the final syllable and the trailing /r/ in rhotic forms.
Common errors include: misplacing stress (say GUAR-an-tors as a three-syllable uniform emphasis), mispronouncing the middle vowel as a full /ɜː/ rather than a neutral /ə/, and slurring the final /tɔrz/ into /tɔs/ or dropping the final /r/ in non-rhotic speakers. Correct by emphasizing first syllable, using a short, neutral /ə/ in the middle, and ensuring the final /rz/ is heard as a final voiced /rz/ cluster rather than an /s/ or /z/ only. Practice with minimal pairs to fix vowel quality and final consonant clarity.
In US English, you get /ˈɡærənˌtɔrz/, with rhotic r coloring and a tense /ɔ/ in the final syllable. UK English tends toward /ˈɡærənˌtɔːz/ with a longer, rounded /ɔː/ and often non-rhoticity in otherwise similar contexts; the final /z/ or /rz/ sound is often weaker. Australian English is rhotic but may feature a slightly shorter /ɔː/ and a tighter vowel space, with similar final /z/ realization. Across all, the middle /ə/ remains schwa-like; the main differences lie in /ɔ/ vs /ɔː/ and rhoticity strength.
The challenge lies in the alternation between a clear stressed onset /ˈɡer-/ and a later /tɔrz/ cluster where the /r/ interacts with the rounded back vowel. For non-rhotic speakers, the trailing /r/ can vanish, making /ˈɡæɹənˌtɒz/ sound like /ˈɡæɹənˈtɒz/ if the /ɔː/ is shortened. Ensuring the /t/ and /r/ are distinct, and maintaining a consistent schwa in the second syllable, requires careful tongue re-positioning. Regular practice with minimal pairs helps solidify articulatory timings.
A unique aspect is the phonetic interaction between the stressed initial syllable and the final syllable’s voiced /z/-like quality in fluent speech. The /t/ is released, followed immediately by the /ɔː/ or /ɔ/ and then the /rz/ cluster. This sequence can lead to a slight epenthetic vowel or a brief pause for clarity in careful speech. Focus on a crisp /t/ release and a clear /z/ at the end, especially in fast read-aloud contexts.
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The word guarantor derives from Old French garant, from garentier, from garer ‘to guarantee, protect’, ultimately from Latin garantire ‘to guarantee’, from guardar ‘to guard’ (a form of guard-). The English term took shape in the legal and commercial lexicons in the medieval and early modern periods as commerce expanded and the need for formal assurances grew. In Middle English, guaranty/comynon traces appeared in contracts requiring someone to vouch for another’s obligations; by the 16th–18th centuries, guarantor was established as the person who provides security or acts as surety. The modern plural guarantors appears in the 19th century as standardized legal diction spread globally in contracts and banking, retaining a precise meaning: a person or entity legally bound to satisfy another’s debt or obligation if that party defaults. First known uses surface in English legal documents detailing surety arrangements and bonds, while the etymology also intersects with terms like guaranty and guarantee, reflecting the shared Latin-root concept of protection and accountability.
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Words that rhyme with "guarantors"
-ers sounds
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