5 syllables: ho, mo, sex, u, als. Stress on sex.
/ˌhoʊmoʊˈsɛˌkʃuəlz/
Say it backA noun (plural) referring to people who experience erotic or romantic attraction to members of the same sex. The term is used in academic, sociological, and media contexts, and can carry clinical or political connotations depending on tone and audience. It is important to use respectful, non-stigmatizing language when discussing sexual orientation and individuals.
- Underpronouncing the /oʊ/ in the first and second syllable leading to a clipped HO-mo- instead of a full 'oh-oh' sequence. - Misplacing primary stress on the third syllable instead of the fourth; ensure secondary stress on the 'sek' and primary on '-əlz' depending on region. - Slurring the 'sek' into 'shu' or mispronouncing /ʃ/ as /ʒ/; keep /ʃ/ clear before /u/. - Dropping the final /l/ or turning /əlz/ into /əlz/ with reduced vowel; keep the schwa plus light l sound. Corrections: Slow down; practice isolated segments: /hoʊ/ /moʊ/ /ˈsek/ /ʃu/ /əlz/. Use mirrors to monitor lip rounding and tongue placement.,
"Researchers studied the opinions of homosexuals regarding marriage equality."
"The documentary included interviews with homosexuals from diverse backgrounds."
"Some laws historically targeted homosexuals, prompting activism and reform."
Pronounce as /ˌhoʊ.moʊˈsek.ʃu.əlz/ (US) or /ˌhəʊ.məˈsek.juː.əlz/ (UK). Stress patterns place primary stress on the second-to-last syllable: ho-mo-SE-ful? Actually: ho-mo-SEC-u-als with secondary stress on the third syllable. Start with a long 'ho' /hoʊ/ or /həʊ/, then /moʊ/ or /mə/ depending on accent, followed by /ˈsek/ (or /ˈsek/), then /-u-əlz/ /-ju.əlz/. Tip: ensure the 'se' is clearly plosive 'k' sound before 'ʃ' in the syllable 'sek'. ,
Common errors include misplacing stress (putting primary stress on the wrong syllable: ho-MO-se-uals), mispronouncing the 'sexual' portion as 'sex-u-uhl' instead of 'sek-shu-əl', and slurring the final -alz into a smooth 'l's-lessly' ending. For corrections, practice the sequence HO-mo-SE-ful? Actually, HO-mo-SEC-u-als with clear 'sek' and a rounded final 'əlz' sound. Practice by isolating the 'sek' with a hard /k/ then glide into /ʃ/ or /ʊ/ depending on accent. ,
In US English, you’ll hear /ˌhoʊ.moʊˈsek.ʃu.əlz/, with r-colored vowels and a strong /ʃ/ in the 'sh' sound. UK English emphasizes /ˌhəʊ.məˈsek.juː.əlz/, with a lighter scan and /j/ after the 'sek' and a glide into /uː/. Australian typically has /ˌhoʊ.məˈsek.tjʊ.əlz/ or /ˌhəʊ.məˈsek.juː.əlz/ with a clipped 'tj' and a longer final vowel. Differences lie in rhoticity, vowel quality, and the treatment of 'su' vs 'sj'.
Difficulties arise from the sequence /ˌhoʊ.moʊˈsek.ʃu.əlz/ where the combination of /oʊ/ vowels, an affricate-like /ʃ/ after /sek/, and the unstressed -əlz ending can create a quick mouthed cluster. The 'se'–'u' boundary can blur in rapid speech, and the /ʃ/ before /u/ can reinforce a palatal glide. Focusing on clear 'sek' and a distinct /ʃ/ before the /u/ helps.
There is no silent letter in standard pronunciations of 'homosexuals' in US/UK/AU. Each segment carries sound: /ˌhoʊ.moʊˈsek.ʃu.əlz/ (US), /ˌhəʊ.məˈsek.juː.əlz/ (UK), /ˌhoʊ.məˈsek.tjʊ.əlz/ (AU). The final -s is voiced in many variants, and the 'e' before 'al' generally contributes to the /əl/ or /əlz/ ending, not silent.
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US: rhotic, vowels are typically pronounced with more lip rounding on /oʊ/; UK: non-rhotic, slight schwa in initial syllable, more clipped final /əlz/; AU: non-rhotic like UK but with broader vowel openness and a more pronounced /tj/ or /tjʊ/ sequence in the 'tuəl' ending depending on speaker. In all: maintain clear /ʃ/ before /u/; keep /ˈsek/ with a hard k; ensure final /əlz/ is not reduced to /əl/. The velar /k/ before /ʃ/ helps clarity. IPA references: US /ˌhoʊ.moʊˈsek.ʃu.əlz/, UK /ˌhəʊ.məˈsek.juː.əlz/, AU /ˌhoʊ.məˈsek.tjʊ.əlz/.
The term homosexual originated in the 19th century, formed from the Greek prefix homo- meaning same, and the Latin root -sexualis from sexus, sexualis related to sexual. In English, homo- as a combining form appears in scientific and medical vocabularies in the 1800s, with -sexual linked to sexual relations. The word entered common discourse in the early 20th century; it became a standard descriptor in psychology, medicine, and sociology. By mid to late 20th century, its usage expanded into broader cultural conversations; however, it has sometimes been replaced by more neutral terms like gay people or LGBTQ+ identifiers in order to reduce pathologizing connotations. The word survives mainly in institutional and academic writing, as well as in historical discussions, while many communities prefer self-chosen labels. First known uses appeared in medical literature around the 1860s-1890s as a classification for sexual orientation; the modern sense of ‘homosexual’ as describing same-sex attraction solidified in English through the early 20th century.
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Words that rhyme with "homosexuals"
-me) sounds
-oll sounds
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