2 syllables: jus co, gens. Stress on gens.
juhs KOH-jenz
/dʒʌs ˈkoʊdʒɛnz/
Jus Cogens is pronounced juhs KOH-jenz (/dʒʌs ˈkoʊdʒɛnz/). It has two syllables (jus co-gens), with the stress on "gens". Jus Cogens is a Latin legal term describing a fundamental, non-derogable principle of international law that must be observed by all states. It denotes norms of universal moral obligation, such as prohibitions on genocide and slavery, that prevail over ordinary treaties. The phrase is typically used in expert legal discourse and policy debates.
proper nounJus Cogens is a Latin legal term describing a fundamental, non-derogable principle of international law that must be observed by all states. It denotes norms of universal moral obligation, such as prohibitions on genocide and slavery, that prevail over ordinary treaties. The phrase is typically used in expert legal discourse and policy debates.
How to Pronounce Jus Cogens
"The prohibition of genocide is a jus cogens norm, binding on every state regardless of treaties."
"Some argue that slavery once violated jus cogens principles and remains incompatible with international law."
"States may not opt out of jus cogens obligations through ordinary treaties or customary law."
Pronounce as JUS KOH-jenz. The first word stresses the first syllable: US English /ˈjʊs/ or /ˈdʒuːs/. The second word stresses the second syllable: /ˈkoʊˌdʒɛnz/ in US usage. In careful speech you can render it as /ˈjʊs ˈkoʊdʒɛnz/; the dʒ sound blends like judge. Tip: keep the two words distinct and avoid running them together.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress on the second word and mispronouncing the c-ogn- cluster. You might say /ˈjus ˈkoʊɡɛns/ with a hard g or mispronounce cogens as ‘coh-genz’ rather than ‘coh-jenz’. Correct by emphasizing the second syllable in cogens and using a voiced postalveolar affricate /dʒ/ in the second syllable. Practice the sequence: /ˈdʒuːs/ + /ˈkoʊdʒɛnz/ with smooth liaison.
In US and UK, the second word uses a /dʒ/ sound as in judge, so /koʊdʒɛnz/. US often has rhoticity affecting the vowel quality slightly; UK typically preserves non-rhoticity in formal speech but retains /dʒ/ similarly. Australian tends toward broader vowels; the /oʊ/ may shift toward /əʊ/ and final vowel could be slightly reduced. Keep the /ʒ/ or /dʒ/ cluster clear in all: /ˈdʒuːs ˈkoʊdʒɛnz/ for US, with subtle vowel shifts in other variants.
The difficulty lies in the Latin origin and the consonant cluster -gens, where the c is soft but the g becomes j-like after o, producing /ˈkoʊdʒɛnz/. Also, the stress pattern at two-word boundary can be tricky in flowing speech. Learners often flatten the vowels or misplace the stress, resulting in /ˈjuːs ˈkoʊɡɛns/ or /ˈdʒuːs ˈkoʊdʒɛns/. Focus on the clean /dʒ/ sound and ensure the second syllable carries stronger prominence.
Jus cogens is a bilingual, scholarly term combining Latin and English that demands precise articulation of the /ˈdʒ/ or /tʃ/? sound in cogens and a clear separation between the two words. The Latin root jus is often pronounced with a soft j in English contexts, but some readers adopt a closer to /ˈjuːs/ while others use /ˈdʒuːs/. The critical features are the correct second-word stress and recognizing the affricate in cogens.
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Jus cogens derives from Latin: jus meaning “law” or “right” and cogens from cōgēns, present participle of cogere meaning “compelling, forcing.” In Roman law, jus cognitum referred to enforceable law; in modern international law, jus cogens designates norms from which no derogation is permitted. The concept emerged in the 20th century as scholars and jurists codified peremptory norms into multilateral practice, notably in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969), which defines certain norms as non-derogable. First widely cited in legal scholarship during the mid-20th century, jus cogens has become central to debates on human rights, genocide prohibition, slavery, and apartheid. The term unites Latin phrasing with modern treaty law, marking a bridge between classical legal language and contemporary international jurisprudence. Over time, jus cogens norms have grown to include prohibitions on torture, crimes against humanity, and racial discrimination in some interpretations, though lists vary among scholars and courts. The enduring core is absolute obligatoriness: no consent or subsequent treaty can revoke them. Their universality and non-derogability underpin global legal accountability mechanisms.
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Words that rhyme with "Jus Cogens"
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