2 syllables: ju, das. Stress on ju.
JOO-duhs
/ˈdʒudəs/
judas is pronounced JOO-duhs (/ˈdʒudəs/). It has two syllables (ju-das), with the stress on "ju". Judas is a proper noun referring to the historical figure who betrayed Jesus, or more broadly to a betrayer. It can also appear as a proper noun in literary or cultural contexts. The term carries strong negative connotations of treachery and disloyalty and is occasionally used colloquially to describe a backstabber. In some minor uses, it appears in idioms or names without intrinsic betrayal meaning.
Judas is a proper noun referring to the historical figure who betrayed Jesus, or more broadly to a betrayer. It can also appear as a proper noun in literary or cultural contexts. The term carries strong negative connotations of treachery and disloyalty and is occasionally used colloquially to describe a backstabber. In some minor uses, it appears in idioms or names without intrinsic betrayal meaning.
"The character Judas in the gospel narrative is known for his betrayal."
"Calling someone a Judas is a serious accusation of treachery."
"The studio’s new album features a track titled Judas as a commentary on hypocrisy."
You say JU-dəs with two syllables. Primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU ˈdʒuː.dəs. Start with the sounds /dʒ/ as in judge, then /uː/ the long 'oo' vowel, followed by /d/ and a schwa-like /ə/ in the second syllable, ending with /s/. Mouth position: raise the jaw for the /uː/, keep the tip of the tongue behind the upper front teeth for /dʒ/, and finish with a light /s/. Audio reference: pronounce-dictionary sources or Forvo entries for Judas can confirm the /ˈdʒuː.dəs/ pattern.
Two frequent errors: (1) Slurring into a single syllable by reducing to /ˈdʒuː.dəs/ with weak separation; keep the two-syllable rhythm and a clear center between syllables. (2) Mispronouncing the 'ja' as a short /a/ like 'Jud-uhs' instead of the long /uː/ in the first syllable. Correction: emphasize the long /uː/ by rounding the lips, hold the vowel slightly longer than a quick /ə/, and ensure crisp /d/ before the final /əs/ or /əs/ cluster.
In all three accents, the word has two syllables with /ˈdʒuː.dəs/. US English often retains a slightly tenser /uː/ and clearer /s/. UK English may have a slightly more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and a touch softer /d/ before /əs/. Australian English is similar to UK but can feature a marginally more open vowel in /uː/ and a non-rolled final /s/. Overall, the rhoticity is not a factor here; the main variations are vowel duration and quality.
The difficulty lies in producing the long /uː/ without tilting into /ɜː/ or a short /u/ in some accents, and in maintaining crisp consonant boundaries in a rapid speech context. Learners may also misplace the primary stress or merge the second syllable into a schwa. Focus on articulating /ˈdʒuː/ as a single, rounded vowel with consistent lip rounding, then deliver the /dəs/ syllable quickly but clearly.
Is the 'ju' in Judas a true fronted /dʒ/ + /uː/ combination or does it slide toward /juː/ in some accents? In standard American, UK, and Australian pronunciations, it remains /dʒuː/ with the /uː/ rounding shaped by the lips. Some regional variations may slightly reduce length in casual speech, but the standard is a clean /ˈdʒuː.dəs/.
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Judas derives from the Hebrew name Yehuda (Yehudah), meaning 'praise or thanks be to God' or simply 'let him be praised.' In Greek, it became Ioudas, and in Latin Iudas, which passed into English as Judas. The name gained its infamous association through the biblical Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ apostles who betrayed him. As Christianity spread, Judas transformed from a common given name to a loaded term symbolizing betrayal; the word appears in later literature and hymns as a figure of treachery. The usage expanded into idiomatic language (e.g., calling someone a Judas) to denote a treacherous person. First known English uses appear in early modern religious texts and post-medieval literature, firmly rooting Judas as a symbol of betrayal in the cultural lexicon.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "judas" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "judas"
-dus sounds
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