2 syllables: Ju, stice. Stress on Ju.
JUHS-tuhs
/ˈdʒʌstəs/
Justice is pronounced JUHS-tuhs (/ˈdʒʌstəs/). It has two syllables (Ju-stice), with the stress on "Ju". Justice is a noun referring to the concept of moral righteousness and the fair application of law or authority. It also denotes the administration of law, the determination of rights, or a judge’s ruling. The term can describe both ethical fairness and the system that upholds it in society.
nounJustice is a noun referring to the concept of moral righteousness and the fair application of law or authority. It also denotes the administration of law, the determination of rights, or a judge’s ruling. The term can describe both ethical fairness and the system that upholds it in society.
How to Pronounce Justice
"The jury delivered verdicts that reflected a sense of justice for the victims."
"She fought for social justice and equal access to education."
"The new law aims to deliver swift justice with transparent procedures."
Pronounce it as JUS-tis, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU ˈdʒʌs.tɪs. Start with a voiced postalveolar affricate /dʒ/ as in 'jump,' then the short /ʌ/ vowel as in 'strut,' followed by a clear /s/ and a reduced /tɪs/ ending. In careful speech, enunciate the /t/ clearly before /ɪ/ to avoid a hidden vowel blend. Audio reference: listen to standard dictation samples or Pronounce entries for /ˈdʒʌs.tɪs/.
Two common errors: 1) Slurring the /dʒ/ into a soft /j/, making it sound like 'yustice' feel; ensure you start with a hard /dʒ/ blend. 2) Reducing the /t/ to a soft, almost swallowed sound when speaking quickly, which can blur the /t/ and /ɪ/ boundary. Practice by isolating the /tɪs/ and ensuring a crisp /t/ release before /ɪ/.
In US, the /dʒ/ is clear and /ʌ/ is pronounced like ‘strut’; rhotic /ɹ/ is not relevant here but influences surrounding vowels. In UK, /ˈdʒʌs.tɪs/ with compact vowel qualities and slightly less vowel reduction; in Australia, a similar pattern but with a more open /ɒ/ or centralized /ɐ/ depending on speaker. Overall, stress stays on first syllable, rhythm is brisk, and vowel quality may shift subtly with intonation.
The difficulty lies in the initial affricate /dʒ/ followed by a short /ʌ/ and a crisp /t/ before /ɪ/. Fast speech can blur the alveolar /s/ and the /t/ boundary, causing a syllabic blip. Additionally, non-native speakers may default to a /j/ (y) sound or misplace the /ʌ/; maintain the exact /dʒ/ onset and a full /t/ release before /ɪs/.
Consider syllable timing: you may be tempted to reduce the second syllable, but keeping a crisp /tɪs/ helps distinguish from similar words like 'just' and 'justice' in rapid speech. Focus on distributing the syllables evenly: /dʒʌs/ as a strong first, /tɪs/ as a shorter but audible second syllable, ensuring no vowel elision in careful speech.
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Justice derives from the Old French droit, later influenced by Latin iustitia meaning righteousness or equity. The Latin iustitia itself stems from iustus meaning righteous or lawful, from ius meaning law. In Late Latin, iustitia broadened to denote legal justice and the moral sense of fairness. English borrowing into Middle English kept the sense of rightfulness and lawful administration, evolving through legal and moral discourse. The term found prominence in legal and philosophical contexts during the medieval and early modern periods, aligning with the development of judicial systems in Europe. First known use in English appears around the 13th century, with the sense of a just person or the virtue of justice becoming foundational in political philosophy and constitutional law. The word now encompasses both the ideal of moral rightness and the concrete institutions (courts, juries) that enforce it, reflecting a long-standing tension and interplay between ethical ideals and legal practice.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Justice" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Justice" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Justice"
-ust sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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