2 syllables: i, dols. Stress on i.
EYE-duhlz
/ˈaɪdəlz/
idols is pronounced EYE-duhlz (/ˈaɪdəlz/). It has two syllables (i-dols), with the stress on "i". Idols refers to people or things greatly admired, often worshiped or idealized. The term can denote celebrities or symbols of reverence; it captures both adoration and aspirational perception. In discourse, idols can be personal icons, cultural symbols, or idols as objects of devotion across contexts.
Idols refers to people or things greatly admired, often worshiped or idealized. The term can denote celebrities or symbols of reverence; it captures both adoration and aspirational perception. In discourse, idols can be personal icons, cultural symbols, or idols as objects of devotion across contexts.
- You: Focus on two main challenges: the /aɪ/ vowel in the first syllable and the /d/ before the schwa. If you soften /d/ too much or merge with /l/, you’ll produce an /aɪl/ or /aɪl/ sound. To fix: practice /ˈaɪ.dəlz/ slowly, with a click to separate /d/ and /əl/. - You: Don’t overemphasize the final /z/; you want a voiced, buzzy end, not a hard /s/. - You: In rapid speech, your middle vowel can reduce to a more closed /ɪ/ or /ə/. Practice with slow-to-fast progression and record for feedback. Corrective tips: 1) isolate the /d/ release with a quick glottal stop? Not recommended; keep full /d/. 2) Use minimal pairs to ensure you don’t replace with /ɪl/ or /ɪz/. 3) Use a tongue position guide: tip to alveolar ridge for /d/, blade for /l/; the schwa is produced with a relaxed jaw and neutral lips.
"Fans gathered to see the idols after the concert."
"The ancient temple housed many idols sculpted in wood and stone."
"She treated her favorite singer as an idol, emulating every gesture."
Pronounce as two syllables: /ˈaɪ.dəlz/. The first syllable carries primary stress: ID-ols. The vowel in the first syllable is the long I as in 'eye', followed by a schwa in the second syllable, and the final -s is voiced, sounding like a z. In connected speech you may hear a quick, almost schwa-like middle vowel: /ˈaɪ.ɾəlz/ in some fast contexts. Mouth position: start with a wide open jaw for /aɪ/, then relax into a mid-central vowel for /ə/ before the /lz/ cluster.
Common errors: 1) De-emphasizing the first syllable and flattening the /aɪ/ to a short vowel, which weakens the word’s energy. 2) Slurring the /d/ into the /l/ making /aɪdəlz/ into something like /aɪləlz/. 3) Mispronouncing the final /z/ as /s/, especially when linking to following words. Correction: clearly articulate /aɪ/ then briefly release /d/ before the schwa /ə/ and finish with a voiced /z/. Practice slow: /ˈaɪ.dəlz/ with full vowel and crisp /d/ and /z/.
US: /ˈaɪ.dəlz/ with a rhotic r sound? No r here; rhotics are not in /aɪ/. UK: /ˈaɪ.dəlz/ similar, sometimes shorter /ə/ in the second syllable depending on speaker. Australian: often a slightly more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and a more relaxed vowel in /ɪ/ region? The key difference is vowel quality of /aɪ/ and the voicing of /z/. In rapid speech, all three may reduce the middle to a schwa: /ˈaɪ.dəlz/.
The difficulty centers on the diphthong /aɪ/ in the first syllable and the consonant cluster /dəl/ before the final voiced /z/. Coordinating the /d/ closure with immediate vowel reduction to /ə/ requires smooth timing; the /lz/ ending demands elongation and voicing without voiceless confusion. Non-native speakers often substitute /l/ or confuse /d/ with /t/ or mispronounce the final /z/ as /s/. Focus on a clean sequence: /ˈaɪ.dəlz/.
The unique aspect of 'idols' is the linked consonant cluster /dəl/ that sits between the stressed first syllable and the final /z/. Your challenge is maintaining the 'd' stop; some speakers move to a lighter /t/ in rapid speech, which makes it sound like /ˈaɪtəlz/. To avoid that, keep the /d/ fully released before the schwa and keep the tongue contact; practice with slow tempo and then speed up.
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US: /ˈaɪ.dəlz/, r-colored vowels minimal in non-rhotic contexts; UK: /ˈaɪ.dəlz/ with shorter /ə/ in some vowels and a non-rhotic R; AU: /ˈaɪ.dəlz/ with a more centralized /ə/ and a lighter /z/ voice. Vowel transitions: /aɪ/ is a tense diphthong; for all accents, end with a clear /z/. Consonant touches: keep the /d/ crisp; the /l/ should be light but present; the /z/ should be fully voiced. IPA references: US /ˈaɪ.dəlz/, UK /ˈaɪ.dəlz/, AU /ˈaɪ.dəlz/.
Idol comes from Old English idol, from Latin idolum, from Greek eidolon meaning ‘image’ or ‘semblance’. Early senses referred to deified images or representations of gods in temples. By Middle English, idol denoted a statue or image worshipped as a god, and, by extension, respected or admired people or things believed to embody excellence. The root eid- carries sense of ‘resemblance’ or ‘image,’ tracing to Greek eidos ‘form’ or ‘sight’. Over centuries the word broadened from a religious object to cultural or personal objects of extreme admiration. By the modern era, idol acquired figurative meanings across popular culture, sports, and media, describing celebrities or exemplary figures as objects of devotion. First known uses appear in religious texts and classical literature, but widespread metaphorical usage increased with modern mass media and entertainment, reflecting society’s fascination with prominent figures and the idealization of success and beauty. The form idols (plural) preserves the early sense of multiple image-like revered figures and can be used in secular contexts as a general term for admired individuals or icons.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "idols" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "idols"
-lds sounds
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