2 syllables: hin, dus. Stress on hin.
/ˈhɪˌnduz/
Say it backHindus refers to adherents of Hinduism, a broad religious and cultural tradition originating in South Asia. The term is often used collectively to describe people who identify with Hindu beliefs, practices, or communities. In everyday use, it can appear as a plural noun or, less commonly, as a descriptive modifier in phrases like Hindu customs or Hindu festivals.
"The Hindus in this region celebrate Diwali with elaborate lamps and prayers."
"Researchers study how Hindus in different communities practice puja and ritual offerings."
"The festival drew Hindus from several neighboring towns."
Pronounce it as /ˈhɪn.dʊz/ in US and UK; in American speech the second syllable may reduce to a short schwa before the z, giving a faster 'hind-uhz' in rapid speech, but careful speakers maintain /dʊz/. Start with HIN as in hit, then /dʊz/ with rounded lips. Stress on the first syllable. See: /ˈhɪn.dʊz/. Audio resources: Cambridge Dictionary, Cambridge pronunciation, or Forvo entries for Hindus.
Common errors include misplacing stress (placing it on the second syllable) and mispronouncing the second syllable as /dɪs/ or /diz/ instead of /dʊz/. Another frequent issue is tensing the /n/ and improper vowel length—keep the first vowel short /ɪ/ and the second vowel laxed to /ʊ/. Ensure the final /z/ is voiced rather than a /s/ sibilant. Practice with minimal pairs to feel the switch between /ɪ/ and /ʊ/.
In US English, /ˈhɪn.dʊz/ with a rhotacized or neutral rhoticity; in UK English, /ˈhɪn.dʌz/ or /ˈhɪnd.jəz/ in some rapid pronunciations, with a shorter /ʌ/ vowel; Australian English tends toward /ˈhɪn.dɐz/ or /ˈhɪn.dʌz/, with a more centralized vowel and a softer /z/. The key is first syllable /ɪ/ as in kitten, second syllable /ʊ/ (US) or /ʌ/ (UK/AU). Pay attention to vowel quality differences and whether the final consonant voice is released.
The difficulty comes from the short, clipped /ɪ/ in the first syllable and the closed, rounded /ʊ/ in the second, followed by the voiced /z/. Non-native speakers often misplace the stress or substitute /ʊ/ with /ʌ/ or drop the vowel altogether in rapid speech. Also, the sequence /nd/ can be tricky if you’re used to simpler consonant clusters. Focus on maintaining a clear split between syllables and a crisp final /z/.
Yes, the contrast between the short first syllable /ɪ/ and the lax second syllable vowel /ʊ/ or /ʌ/ depending on accent is distinct. You also maintain a clean /d/ before the /ʊ/ or /ʌ/ and a voiced final /z/. Unlike some plural forms, Hindus uses a two-syllable pattern with a distinct primary stress on the first syllable, which is a common search query for learners.
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US: /ˈhɪn.dɪz/ with potential /dʊ/ or /dʊz/ depending on speaker; UK: /ˈhɪn.dʌz/ or /ˈhɪn.dɜːz/, rhoticity less important. AU: /ˈhɪn.dəs/ or /ˈhɪn.dʌz/, vowel closer to /ə/ or /ɐ/; many Australians drop the final syllable slightly and reduce vowels. IPA references: US /ˈhɪn.dʊz/, UK /ˈhɪn.dʌz/, AU /ˈhɪn.dəs/; emphasize final /z/.
Hindu originates from the Persian and Sanskrit term sindhu, meaning ‘river’ or ‘indus.’ The ancient Greek writers used Indos to refer to the Indus region, and the term Hindu emerged in Persian and Arabic contexts to describe people beyond the Indus River. In English, Hindu shifted from a regional/cultural descriptor to a religious identifier, particularly during the colonial era when British administrators and missionaries used Hindu to categorize a vast, diverse set of practices and beliefs in the Indian subcontinent. The earliest known use in English appears in the 16th–17th centuries, reflecting contact with South Asian languages and trade routes. Over centuries, the word Hindu broadened beyond geographic meaning to denote a religious tradition with a plurality of deities, philosophies, and rituals, rather than a single, unified creed. In modern contexts, Hindu is typically capitalized when referring to adherents, and Hinduism as the religion’s formal name. The plural noun Hindus follows standard English pluralization rules adding -s, whereas Hinduism retains the -ism suffix signaling a system of beliefs. The evolving usage reflects evolving religious identities, diasporic communities, and academic discourse around non-Abrahamic faiths.
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Words that rhyme with "hindus"
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