2 syllables: li, ners. Stress on li.
LEYE-nurz
/ˈlaɪnɚz/
liners is pronounced LEYE-nurz (/ˈlaɪnɚz/). It has two syllables (li-ners), with the stress on "li". Liners is the plural of liner, meaning a thing that lines or a person who lines something, such as a drain liner or a product with a lining. It can also refer to a subtitle or subtitle-like line in journalism, or to the plural of an equipment item that lines another surface. In context, it denotes multiple items that form a lining or protective layer, or, less commonly, people who apply or wear liners.
Liners is the plural of liner, meaning a thing that lines or a person who lines something, such as a drain liner or a product with a lining. It can also refer to a subtitle or subtitle-like line in journalism, or to the plural of an equipment item that lines another surface. In context, it denotes multiple items that form a lining or protective layer, or, less commonly, people who apply or wear liners.
"The city installed plastic liners inside the drainage trench."
"During the fishing trip, he wore insulated liners for warmth."
"The ship’s cargo hold was protected by new lining liners."
Pronounce the word as /ˈlaɪnərz/. The first syllable carries primary stress: LY-neerz, with a clear /aɪ/ as in 'line' and a schwa-less ending; the plural marker adds a final /z/ sound. The overall flow is two syllables: LY-nərz, but with a crisp /rz/ ending in many accents. IPA reference: US /ˈlaɪnərz/, UK /ˈlaɪnəz/, AU /ˈlaɪnəz/.
Common errors include pronouncing the second syllable as /ɜː/ or /ɚ/ without reducing the vowel, or turning the final /z/ into a /s/ due to voicing in rapid speech. Another frequent mistake is misplacing stress, saying LYA-ners or LINE-ers with a stronger schwa. Correction tip: emphasize the first syllable with /laɪ/ and reduce the second syllable to /nər/ or /nəz/ depending on speaker, keeping the final /z/ voicing. Listen for the natural /ˈlaɪnərz/ pattern.
US: /ˈlaɪnərz/ with rhoticity: /r/ pronounced before a vowel in the second syllable. UK: /ˈlaɪnz/ or /ˈlaɪnəz/ with non-rhoticity; the /r/ is not pronounced, and the second syllable often reduces to /nz/ or /nəz/. AU: /ˈlaɪnəz/ similar to UK, but with a slightly more open vowel in some speakers. In all cases, the final /z/ is voiced; the main variation is the second syllable vowel quality and rhoticity.
The challenge lies in the rapid phonetic transition from /laɪ/ to /nər/ (or /nz/), especially the mid-to-high vowel in the second syllable and the voicing of the final /z/ after a consonant cluster. For non-native speakers, the /ɹ/ in US can carry a strong influence on the second syllable; in UK/AU, the lack of rhotic /r/ makes the second syllable shorter and more centralized. Focus on maintaining a crisp /laɪ/ and a light, quick /nərz/ or /nz/.
Is there a hidden vowel length difference between /ɪ/ in 'liners' and the unstressed vowel in many fast speech versions? Answer: In 'liners,' the second syllable typically contains a reduced vowel like /ə/ or a schwa-like /ər/ depending on dialect; in careful speech, it’s /ˈlaɪnərz/. The question targets subtle vowel reduction within the second syllable across dialects.
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Liners comes from the noun liner, itself from Middle English linyre, derived from Old French linier or liner, ultimately from Latin linare (to line) via linum (linen). The sense evolved from a material that lines a container (a lining) to an object that serves as a lining or a person who lines something. The plural form -ers follows standard English agentive/instrumental derivation, signaling multiple items serving as linings or multiple people who line other items. The earliest uses reference shop fittings and ship linings in the 16th–18th centuries, with industrial adoption in the 19th century, where liners referred to protective inner layers (e.g., tank linings, pipe linings). In modern usage, liners can also denote peninsular or decorative trims on apparel and consumer goods; the term has broadened to pluralize any lining or lining-like component across industries.
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Words that rhyme with "liners"
-ers sounds
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