One syllable: gust.
/ɡʌst/
gust is pronounced /ɡʌst/. It has one syllable (gust), with the stress on "gust". Gust is a brief, strong rush of wind. It can describe a sudden windstorm, a burst of emotion, or a fleeting, forceful movement. The term emphasizes speed and momentariness rather than duration, and it can function as a noun or a verb in broader contexts (to gust).
Say it backGust is a brief, strong rush of wind. It can describe a sudden windstorm, a burst of emotion, or a fleeting, forceful movement. The term emphasizes speed and momentariness rather than duration, and it can function as a noun or a verb in broader contexts (to gust).
"A gust of wind rattled the shutters."
"A sudden gust swept through the open door as we carried the boxes."
"She felt a gust of anger rise and then fade quickly."
Pronounce it as a single syllable with /ɡəst/ in General American or /ɡʌst/ in many UK pronunciations. The initial /ɡ/ is a hard g, the vowel is short and can vary between /ə/ (schwa) and /ʌ/ (as in 'hut'), followed by the /st/ consonant cluster. Emphasize a clean release into /st/ without adding vowel length. Audio references: consult Cambridge or Oxford audio dictionaries for native-speaker pronunciation. IPA guide: US /ɡəst/, UK /ɡʌst/, AU /ɡəst/; ensure the vowel is short and the /st/ blends crisply with minimal lip rounding.
Common errors: (1) Lengthening the vowel before /st/ (say /ɡuːst/ or /ɡɜːst/). (2) Voicing the /t/ too strongly, making it sound like /d/ or a tap. (3) Adding an extra vowel after /g/ (e.g., /ɡʌju/). Correction: keep the vowel short (reduce to a quick /ə/ or /ʌ/) and end immediately with /st/. Practice with minimal pairs like gust vs gusty to feel boundary; use a clipped mouth position and forceful burst into /st/ for a crisp finish.
In US English, /ɡəst/ with a schwa is common, rhoticity not affecting /ɡ/. In UK English, some speakers use /ɡʌst/ with a shorter, higher vowel; the /t/ remains unreleased in careful speech. Australian speakers often align with /ɡəst/ as in US, but you may hear a slightly higher vowel and more clipped /st/. Across all, the final /st/ cluster stays distinct; the vowel quality and vowel reduction vary by accent, affecting perceived warmth or hardness of the word.
The difficulty often lies in the final /st/ cluster; you must release the /t/ crisply while preventing vowel lengthening or a yod-like schwa insertion. Achieving a clean stop after the vowel and a hard /st/ blend requires precise tongue tip contact with the alveolar ridge and a quick, strong air burst. Learners may also mishearse the vowel as /u/ or /ɜː/ before /st/. Focus on a short, clipped vowel and immediate /st/ release to master the word.
A notable feature is the strong sibilant /s/ following a short vowel and a hard /t/ release. The onset /ɡ/ is straightforward, but ensuring the preceding vowel remains short (not prolonged) and having the tongue blade approach the alveolar ridge rapidly for the /st/ is key. You’ll often hear a tiny air puff as the /t/ is released; controlling this breath helps prevent sloppiness and creates a precise gust sound.
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Gust comes from Middle English gost, gust, influenced by the Old Norse word gos, referring to a push or gust of wind. The sense of a sudden, sharp rush of air dates to early modern English. The root is associated with gustus in Latin, meaning taste or fashion, but in English gust as wind is Germanic in origin and parallels other wind-related terms like gusty, gustiness. First known use in English literature appears in the late Middle Ages, with repeated usage through the 16th–18th centuries to describe abrupt wind surges in weather narratives. Over time, gust evolved to emphasize speed and abruptness more than intensity, becoming a standard meteorological and literary descriptor for a quick shove of air rather than a sustained current. In modern usage, gust functions both as a noun (a gust of wind) and, less commonly, as a verb in some stylized contexts, though the verb use is rare and primarily found in poetic or humorous phrasing.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "gust" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "gust" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "gust"
-ust sounds
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