2 syllables: i, rons. Stress on i.
EYE-urnz
/ˈaɪɚnz/
irons is pronounced EYE-urnz (/ˈaɪɚnz/). It has two syllables (i-rons), with the stress on "i". Irons is the plural noun form of iron, referring to metal objects made of iron or, in sports, to iron clubs used in golf. It can also function as a verb form in informal contexts (“he irons his shirt”) meaning to press clothes with an iron. The word's pronunciation centers on a short, nasalized vowel in the first syllable and a clipped final consonant cluster.
Irons is the plural noun form of iron, referring to metal objects made of iron or, in sports, to iron clubs used in golf. It can also function as a verb form in informal contexts (“he irons his shirt”) meaning to press clothes with an iron. The word's pronunciation centers on a short, nasalized vowel in the first syllable and a clipped final consonant cluster.
Tips: Practice with minimal pairs like “iron’s” vs “irons” in contrastive drills using a finger-tlicking pace to preserve the /ɹ/ or /r/ quality and the /nz/ cluster.
"- The golf bag carried several irons, each suited to a different distance."
"- He pressed his shirt with a hot iron to remove the crease."
"- In the workshop, a pile of irons gleamed under the fluorescent light."
Pronounce as /ˈaɪərnz/ in US and UK English; in Australian English you’ll often hear /ˈaɪənz/. Start with the long
Common errors include slurring the r-controlled vowel into a single syllable (/ˈaɪərnz/ → /ˈaɪrz/ or /ˈɪərnz/), omitting the schwa-like sound in the second syllable, and misplacing stress. Correct it by clearly sustaining /aɪ/ then producing /ɜr/ or /ər/ before the final /nz/.
In US/UK, the first syllable bears primary stress with /aɪə/ or /aɪɚ/ sequences before the /nz/. US tends toward rhoticity, giving a more pronounced /ɚ/ in the second syllable; UK often has a non-rhotic accent with a crisper /n/ followed by a light /z/ or /nz/. Australian tends to a more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and a slightly flatter vowel in /aɪ/.
The difficulty lies in the vowel sequence after the initial /aɪ/ and the nasal + voiceless consonant cluster /nz/, which can blur in rapid speech. The transition from the diphthong /aɪ/ to /ər/ or /ə/ plus /nz/ requires precise tongue retraction and lip rounding, especially for non-native speakers; practice by isolating the two vowel sounds and rehearsing the /nz/ cluster separately.
Yes. In rhotic accents, the /r/ is pronounced before the final /nz/ in many US dialects, producing an /ɹ/ transition before the /nz/. In non-rhotic accents (some UK varieties), the /r/ is less pronounced or only appears in linking contexts, so you may hear /ˈaɪənz/ with a weaker r-sound. Focus on the rhotic vs non-rhotic difference and keep the /n/ and /z/ segments clear.
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Irons derives from the Old English word iron, itself from the Germanic root isar- or isern- referring to the metal. The term iron originally encompassed both the material and its tools, evolving through Middle English as ironware and tools proliferated in trade and craft. The linguistic shift hardened around the sense of forged metal objects and tools, with iron set apart from other alloys. In golf, the term irons was adopted in the 19th century to categorize a family of clubs by their angled, weighted heads designed to produce different trajectories. The plural form irons appears in reference to a collection of tools or objects made of iron, and in modern usage, it frequently denotes individual items within a set or the set as a whole. First known uses in English literature appear in medieval texts referring to iron implements, with later glosses expanding to industrial and sports lexicons as ironworking and golf gained prominence in Europe and North America.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "irons" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "irons" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "irons" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "irons"
-son sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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