2 syllables: li, ons. Stress on li.
LEYE-uhnz
/ˈlaɪənz/
lions is pronounced LEYE-uhnz (/ˈlaɪənz/). It has two syllables (li-ons), with the stress on "li". Lions is the plural of lion, a large predatory feline. As a word, it is pronounced with a light first syllable and a stressed second syllable, typically /ˈlaɪənz/ in most English varieties. The plural marker -s is pronounced as a voiced /z/ in connected speech, making the final sound a zoid-like sibilant. It appears in both literal animal references and metaphorical uses (e.g., “brave lions”).
Lions is the plural of lion, a large predatory feline. As a word, it is pronounced with a light first syllable and a stressed second syllable, typically /ˈlaɪənz/ in most English varieties. The plural marker -s is pronounced as a voiced /z/ in connected speech, making the final sound a zoid-like sibilant. It appears in both literal animal references and metaphorical uses (e.g., “brave lions”).
"The lions paced along the edge of the enclosure."
"Several lions roared in the early morning."
"A pride of lions was spotted near the savannah."
Pronounce it as /ˈlaɪənz/. The first syllable bears primary stress, with a long I as in
Common errors include reducing the first syllable to /lə/ or misplacing the /ɪ/ sound, and mispronouncing the final /z/ as /s/ or /z/ in isolation. Correction focuses on keeping the diphthong in the first syllable /laɪ/ intact, ensuring the second syllable presents a clear schwa or reduced /ən/ before a voiced /z/.
In US/UK/AU, the core is /ˈlaɪənz/. Differences lie mainly in vowel quality of the first syllable and the vowel before the final /z/. Australians may have a slightly more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and more distinctive non-rhotic tendencies in some dialects, but most share the rhoticity and final voiced z.
The difficulty stems from the two weak syllables after the strong first syllable: transitioning from /laɪ/ to a reduced /ən/ and finally to a voiced /z/. Many learners conflate /ən/ with /n/ or drop the /ə/ entirely, making the final consonant less audible. Practicing smooth syllable transitions helps.
Is the final 's' always pronounced as /z/? In careful speech, yes, the plural ending is a voiced /z/ after a vowel or sonorant. In rapid or connected speech, you might hear a shorter or slightly devoiced /z/ depending on surrounding sounds, but standard pronunciation remains /ˈlaɪənz/.
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The word lion derives from Latin leo, from Greek leon, and from Proto-Indo-European root *leyo-/*leo-. In Latin and Greek, leo and leontas expressed the animal known for its mane and royal symbolism. English borrowed lion via Old French leon in the medieval period, with early spellings approximating liones and lyngiones before stabilizing to lions. The plural form follows English noun pluralization patterns by adding -s after a final sibilant sound, leading to the pronunciation /-z/ in fluent speech. The semantic field broadened over centuries—from the actual animal to symbolic lion imagery in heraldry, literature, and culture—without major shifts in pronunciation, though regional stress and vowel quality evolved with shifts in English vowels. First known English attestations of lions date from Middle English texts, aligning with the broader adoption of plural -s in the 13th century. Throughout, the core pronunciation concentrates on a diphthong in the first syllable, followed by a schwa-like or reduced second syllable, and an audible final /z/ in standard speech.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "lions" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "lions" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "lions"
-nes sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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