2 syllables: kin, ship. Stress on kin.
KIN-ship
/ˈkɪˌnʃɪp/
kinship is pronounced KIN-ship (/ˈkɪˌnʃɪp/). It has two syllables (kin-ship), with the stress on "kin". Kinship refers to the bond or connection between people who share a common ancestry or family ties. It also denotes the social relationship, obligations, and sense of belonging that arise from those ties. The term is used in anthropology, sociology, and everyday language to describe family-related roles and networks rooted in lineage and shared descent.
Kinship refers to the bond or connection between people who share a common ancestry or family ties. It also denotes the social relationship, obligations, and sense of belonging that arise from those ties. The term is used in anthropology, sociology, and everyday language to describe family-related roles and networks rooted in lineage and shared descent.
"There is a strong kinship among the villagers, built on generations of shared stories and mutual support."
"Scholarship on kinship explores how families organize care, inheritance, and obligations across cultures."
"In many communities, kinship extends beyond blood relations to include adoptive and chosen families."
Kinship is pronounced with two syllables: /ˈkɪn.ʃɪp/. Primary stress falls on the first syllable: 'KIN-ship'. The mouth starts with a short front vowel /ɪ/ as in 'kit', then a clear /n/ before the /ʃ/ sound, followed by a short /ɪ/ and final /p/. Visualize: KIN (lip relaxed, tongue high-mid) + ship (sh- as in 'ship', lips neutral). For reference, you can compare with /ˈkɪn.ʃɪp/.
Common errors include merging the syllables too loosely, saying /ˈkɪnʃɪp/ with weak separation, and misplacing the /ʃ/ as /s/ or /tʃ/. Fix by clearly releasing the stop between /n/ and /ʃ/: hold a brief pause or a fuller /t/-like release: /ˈkɪn.ʃɪp/. Another pitfall is not emphasizing the first syllable: ensure the /ɪ/ in 'kin' is short and crisp. Practice with minimal pairs and slow tempo to build the precise boundary between /n/ and /ʃ/.
US/UK/AU share /ˈkɪn.ʃɪp/ with primary stress on the first syllable. In some UK varieties, you might hear a slightly more rounded /ɪ/ in 'kin', and a softer /ʃ/; in Australian speech, the /ɪ/ vowels may be slightly more centralized, and vowel length can be reduced in connected speech. The /p/ is typically released clearly in all three, but Australians may have a more clipped final consonant in casual speech. Overall, rhoticity is not a factor here, as kinship does not involve R coloration in any of these accents.
The difficulty centers on the /n/ and /ʃ/ sequence in English: a fast boundary between /n/ and /ʃ/ can blur in rapid speech, causing a blend like /nʃ/ or /ŋʃ/. The /ɪ/ vowel in both syllables is short and lax, which can be mispronounced as a longer vowel. Stress stability on the first syllable and the alveolar-n-alveolar transition require precise tongue position: tip of the tongue at the alveolar ridge for /n/, then a quick retraction into the postalveolar /ʃ/. This combination is easy to swallow in casual talk, especially when consonants are rushed.
Kinship centers on the /ɪ/ in each syllable and the /ʃ/ sound that follows the nasal /n/. A unique challenge is avoiding an over-elaborated /t/ sound between /n/ and /ʃ/—the correct sequence is a clean /n/ immediately followed by /ʃ/. Additionally, maintain a steady primary stress on the first syllable and ensure a short, precise /ɪ/ in the second syllable. Visualize mouth position: apex of tongue behind upper front teeth for /n/, then blade of the tongue near the postalveolar ridge for /ʃ/.
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Kinship traces to the Old English word cynn, meaning family, race, or clan, related to kin (relatives). The suffix -ship, from Old English -scipe, denotes state, condition, or quality, as in leadership or fellowship. The combination literally communicates the state of being of one’s kin. Over time, kinship broadened beyond mere blood relations to include social and legal ties, such as marriage, adoption, and community membership. In many anthropological texts, kinship systems shape social organization, marriage rules, and inheritance, highlighting how families are formed through biological links and cultural practices. First attested in English in the medieval period, kinship gained prominence in sociological discourse in the 19th and 20th centuries as scholars studied family structures, lineage networks, and cultural variations in kin obligations across societies. The word’s core meaning remains stable—shared lineage and relatedness—while its scope has expanded to cover both formal and informal social bonds that define belonging and obligation within groups.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "kinship" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "kinship" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "kinship"
-lip sounds
-rip sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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