3 syllables: in, si, ders. Stress on si.
in-SEYE-durz
/ˌɪˈnsaɪdɚz/
insiders is pronounced in-SEYE-durz (/ˌɪˈnsaɪdɚz/). It has three syllables (in-si-ders), with the stress on "si". Insiders refers to people who have privileged access to information or knowledge not widely available, often within a particular group or organization. It can also describe members who belong to such a circle. The term connotes exclusive insight or awareness that's not for public consumption, and is frequently used in business, politics, or media contexts.
Insiders refers to people who have privileged access to information or knowledge not widely available, often within a particular group or organization. It can also describe members who belong to such a circle. The term connotes exclusive insight or awareness that's not for public consumption, and is frequently used in business, politics, or media contexts.
- You might over-compact the middle /ˈsaɪ/ into a quick syllable, producing in-SI- ders without clear vowel separation. Focus on the long diphthong /aɪ/ with a full release before /d/. - The final /z/ sometimes becomes devoiced in rapid speech, sounding like /s/. Make sure your vocal cords stay engaged to voice the /z/. - Sometimes you’ll shorten the first /ɪ/ or misplace the stress, saying insiDers or inSIder instead of in-SI-ders. Use a light, quick initial /ɪ/ and clearly mark the secondary syllable.”,
"The insiders warned the firm about the looming scandal before it broke publicly."
"Industry insiders say the new policy could reshape market dynamics."
"She joined the group as an insider, gaining access to confidential reports."
Phonetic pronunciation: /ɪnˈsaɪ.dərz/ in US; /ɪnˈsaɪ.dəz/ in UK/AU. Stress is on the second syllable: in-SI-ders. Start with a short schwa-like initial vowel /ɪ/ as in 'kit', then /ˈsaɪ/ as in 'sigh', then /dər/ or /də/ depending on accent, and end with an /z/ (voiced z) sound. Mouth positions: keep lips relaxed for /ɪ/, jaw lowered for /ˈsaɪ/, tongue blades near the alveolar ridge for /d/, and lips ready to voice the final /z/. Audio can be found via Forvo or dictionaries.”,
Common errors: (1) Flat pronunciation of /ɪ/ replacing with a lax schwa; (2) Misplacing stress, saying in- SAI- ders without proper emphasis on the second syllable; (3) Final /z/ misarticulated as /s/ or voiceless. Correction tips: start with a clear /ɪ/ in the first syllable, then build to the strong /ˈsaɪ/ cluster; ensure the /d/ is a clean alveolar stop before the voiced /z/; finally, voice the final z clearly by sustaining breath and voicing. Use minimal pairs to practice: ins-ID-ers vs ins-IDE-ers, insiders vs insider’s.”,
In US, final /z/ is fully voiced; /ɪnˈsaɪ.dərz/. In many UK accents, the final may be realized with a slightly reduced vowel in -ers, like /ɪnˈsaɪ.dəz/; r-coloring is less pronounced, and some speakers may devoice the final /z/ to /s/ in rapid speech, though standard is /-z/. Australian English tends toward /ɪnˈsaɪ.dəz/ with non-rhoticity similar to UK, and the final vowel can be centralized, sounding like /ə/. Overall, stress remains on the second syllable; vowel qualities of /ɪ/ and /aɪ/ remain consistent, but the final consonant and vowel may shift subtly with rhotic vs non-rhotic tendencies.”,
Two main challenges: the middle diphthong /ˈaɪ/ in 'sigh' and the transition from a voiced alveolar /d/ to a voiced sibilant /z/ in a clustered sequence; the plural suffix /-z/ must stay voiced and not fuse with the vowel preceding it. Also, the vowel in the first syllable /ɪ/ is short; speakers often lengthen or reduce it. Mastery involves precise tongue height for /ɪ/ and /aɪ/, and careful air control to keep the /d/ crisp while voicing /z/. With practice, you’ll produce a clean, evenly-timed 3-syllable word.”,
The word ends with a voiced sibilant /z/, which creates a connected- speech effect when attached to a following vowel or consonant, often causing the final /z/ to link or assimilate in rapid speech. The second syllable carries the lexical stress, making the /ˈsaɪ/ nucleus prominent. Also, the transition from /d/ to /z/ can produce a slight air release or voice onset time difference in continuous speech. Practicing with context sentences helps you hear and reproduce the linking and the final buzz of /z/.”,
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- US: More rhoticity in connected speech; keep /r/ out of the final cluster, as /dz/ is typical; ensure clear /ɪ/ and /aɪ/ vowels. IPA: /ɪnˈsaɪ.dərz/. - UK: Slightly less rhotic, final /z/ can be realized as /z/ but vowel qualities are brisk; IPA may be /ɪnˈsaɪ.dəz/ depending on speaker. - AU: Similar to UK; non-rhotic; expect /ɪnˈsaɪ.dəz/ or /ɪnˈsaɪ.dərz/, with vowels a touch more centralized in rapid speech. Emphasize the middle /ˈsaɪ/ and keep the /d/ crisp before /z/. - Vowel notes: /ɪ/ in first syllable should be short and lax; /aɪ/ in second syllable is a clear, strong diphthong; final /ər/ in US often produces a rhotacized vowel depending on speaker. Practice with IPA transcriptions to anchor mouth positions.”,
Insider originates from the noun insider, formed from inside + -er, with the suffix implying a person who is on the inside. The phrase “inside” traces back to Old English in, inside, from in + side, with “-er” denoting an agent or actor. The modern sense of a person who has privileged knowledge or access developed in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially in political, corporate, and social spheres, where “insider information” or “insider trading” became common terms. The broader figurative use—someone who belongs to a group with confidential access—emerged as organizations and social networks expanded. First known uses appear in mid-1800s English legal and political discourse, with “insider” appearing in print in relation to people who are part of the inner circle of power or strategy. The word’s semantic trajectory solidified in business journalism and governance contexts in the 20th century, aligning with contemporary notions of transparency versus secrecy. Today, insiders are widely understood as individuals who possess non-public information or intimate familiarity with a group’s operations.
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Words that rhyme with "insiders"
-ers sounds
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