One syllable: join.
joyn
/dʒɔɪn/
join is pronounced joyn (/dʒɔɪn/). It has one syllable (join), with the stress on "join". Join refers to connecting or uniting two or more things, or to become formally affiliated or a member. It can describe physically linking objects, joining forces, or joining a group or organization. In pronunciation practice, it also highlights how the initial consonant blends with the preceding or following sounds in connected speech to form a smooth transition.
Join refers to connecting or uniting two or more things, or to become formally affiliated or a member. It can describe physically linking objects, joining forces, or joining a group or organization. In pronunciation practice, it also highlights how the initial consonant blends with the preceding or following sounds in connected speech to form a smooth transition.
"We decided to join the two pieces with a hinge."
"She plans to join the scouts next weekend."
"They will join us after the meeting concludes."
Pronounce it as /dʒɔɪn/. The initial sound is the voiced postalveolar affricate /dʒ/ (like 'judge'), followed by the diphthong /ɔɪ/ (as in 'boy'), ending with the nasal /n/. Stress is on the only syllable. In fast, natural speech you may hear a quicker transition from /dʒ/ to /ɔɪ/ and a brief softening before a following word, but the core is /dʒɔɪn/. Audio cues: listen for the smooth /ɔɪ/ glide and the final nasal.
Common errors include pronouncing it as /ˈdɪˌdʒɒɪn/ with an extra vowel or breaking the /ɔɪ/ into two syllables, and mispronouncing the initial sound as /j/ or /ʒ/. To correct: produce /dʒ/ by starting with the tongue just behind the upper front teeth and releasing with a brief air burst, then glide into /ɔɪ/ without inserting a vowel between /dʒ/ and /ɔɪ/. End with a clean /n/ rather than a nasalized or devoiced sound.
In US, UK, and AU, join is /dʒɔɪn/. The main variation comes from neighboring vowel quality in adjacent words and linking: in rapid speech, US speakers may reduce surrounding vowels more, while UK and AU speakers maintain a crisper /ɔɪ/ and sometimes link to following /ɹ/ or /n/. Rhoticity affects surrounding words rather than the /ɔɪ/ itself here. Overall, the target remains a rhotic-leaning or non-rhotic rhythm depending on regional accent but the core /dʒɔɪn/ is consistent.
The difficulty lies in smoothly transitioning from the consonant cluster /dʒ/ into the rising diphthong /ɔɪ/ without inserting an extra vowel and maintaining the fast, light ending /n/. The tongue must move from the postalveolar region to the mid-back position for /ɔɪ/ while the jaw opens slightly to accommodate the diphthong, all in a single, smooth motion. Practicing the glide and keeping the /n/ crisp helps clarity.
There is no silent letter in join. Every sound is pronounced: /dʒ/ (as in judge), /ɔɪ/ (the diphthong), and /n/. A common confusion arises if a speaker attempts to elide the /dʒ/ or misreads the diphthong as two separate vowels. Focus on a single smooth onset /dʒ/ followed by the diphthong glide to ensure full pronunciation.
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Join comes from the Old French joindre, later joined in Middle English, ultimately from Latin jungere, meaning to yoke or bind. The word arrived in Middle English with senses of fastening or linking, evolving to include formal union and participation. Early uses were literal, describing physical joining of pieces or chains. By the 14th–15th centuries, metaphorical senses—joining a guild or assembly—began to appear, reflecting social or organizational connotations. Over time, join extended to idiomatic expressions (join in, join up, join forces) as English adopted diverse collocations. The core idea remains binding or bringing elements together, with modern usage expanding to join online communities, teams, or events. First known written attestations appear in legal and craft contexts, then broaden in literary and colloquial registers as social networks and collaborative enterprises emerged.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "join" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "join" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "join"
-oin sounds
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