One syllable: hairs.
herz
/hɛɹz/
hairs is pronounced herz (/hɛɹz/). It has one syllable (hairs), with the stress on "hairs". Hairs refers to multiple small strands that grow from the skin of a human or animal, typically on the head in humans. It can also function as the plural of hair in contexts like fibers or feather-like structures in other materials. In everyday usage, ‘hairs’ most often appears in discussions of grooming, texture, or hair-related descriptions.
Hairs refers to multiple small strands that grow from the skin of a human or animal, typically on the head in humans. It can also function as the plural of hair in contexts like fibers or feather-like structures in other materials. In everyday usage, ‘hairs’ most often appears in discussions of grooming, texture, or hair-related descriptions.
"Her hairs were neatly tucked under a scarf."
"The hairs on the dog’s back bristled in the wind."
"She found loose hairs in the sink after brushing."
Pronounce it as /hɛɹz/ in US and UK standard; in many US accents the final consonant is a rhotic /ɹ/ before the /z/. The first syllable carries the short e as in ‘head’, and you finish with a voiced /z/. Mouth position: lips relaxed, tongue high for /ɛ/, tip slightly up toward the alveolar ridge for /ɹ/. In IPA terms: US /hɛɚz/ or /hɛɹz/, UK /hɛːz/ where the /ɹ/ is not pronounced; AU often /hɛːz/ with a non-rhotic vowel lengthening. Audio reference: you can listen to native pronunciations on Forvo or YouGlish, focusing on contexts like “a few hairs” to ensure the /z/ is voiced and not devoiced.
Common errors include: 1) pronouncing the plural as /hɑːz/ or /hɑːz/ with a long vowel; 2) failing to voice the final /z/, saying /s/ as in ‘hairs’ instead of a buzzing /z/; 3) misplacing the /ɹ/ and making it an /l/ or a vowel. Correction tips: practice with minimal pair /hɛɹz/ vs /hɛs/; focus on voicing the final consonant by gently vibrating the vocal folds as you release the /z/. Use a mirror to check lip rounding and jaw position; keep the vowel crisp and short, not a drawn-out /eɪ/ sound.
In US English, you typically hear /hɛɹz/ with a rhotic /ɹ/ and a clearly voiced /z/. UK English tends to be non-rhotic; some speakers might reduce the /ɹ/ so it’s less prominent and the vowel could be closer to /ˈheəz/ or /ˈhɛəz/. Australian English is generally non-rhotic as well but often with a slightly broader vowel in /ɛ/ and a trailing, less clipped /z/. Across all, the key is the final voiced /z/; in careful, crisp speech the /z/ remains voiced, whereas in fast speech it can assimilate toward /s/ in some casual cases.
The challenge lies in the short, lax vowel /ɛ/ followed by a quick transition into the voiced alveolar fricative /z/. Many learners either lengthen the vowel too much or fail to voice the final consonant, turning it into /s/. The tongue must gently approach the alveolar ridge for /z/ without creating a trill or a hiss. Mouth posture should be relaxed, with a crisp release of /h/ and an immediate voiced /z/; avoid glottal stops or vowel elongation that muddies the final consonant.
A unique consideration is that while ‘hairs’ is the plural of hair, its pronunciation is influenced by the preceding vowel color in connected speech (e.g., in fast phrases like ‘the hairs on her arms’). In connected speech, you may hear a subtle vowel color change in the first syllable depending on the syllable stress of surrounding words. Additionally, in some dialects, the /ɹ/ in /hɹ/ can merge or be muted, making the word sound closer to /heəz/; awareness of this helps learners adjust timing and voicing in fluent speech.
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The word hairs comes from Old English hearas, which is the plural form of hare, a noun meaning ‘hair’ derived from Proto-Germanic *haisaz. Over time, the spelling and pronunciation shifted with Middle English and Early Modern English influences, aligning with the Modern English plural -s suffix. The semantic core has consistently referred to slender keratinized strands growing from follicles, used both literally (human/animal hair) and metaphorically (hairlike fibers). The transition to plural usage (hairs) occurs when discussing multiple strands or multiple individuals’ hair as a collective or countable unit. First known uses appear in Old English texts, where “hēaras” functioned similarly to modern “hairs,” and by the 16th century, the plural form “hairs” is attested in written English, with pronunciation stabilizing toward /hɛərz/ in many dialects. The word’s meaning broadened in contexts like textiles and anatomy, while remaining central to grooming and appearance culture in English-speaking communities.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "hairs" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "hairs" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "hairs"
-irs sounds
-res sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
