3 syllables: lo, bby, ists. Stress on lo.
LAH-bee-ists
/ˈlɑbiɪsts/
lobbyists is pronounced LAH-bee-ists (/ˈlɑbiɪsts/). It has three syllables (lo-bby-ists), with the stress on "lo". Lobbyists are individuals who attempt to influence public policy or decisions on behalf of organizations or interest groups. They typically meet with legislators, advise on legislation, and advocate for specific outcomes. The term conveys professional, organized advocacy, often tied to political processes and governance.
Lobbyists are individuals who attempt to influence public policy or decisions on behalf of organizations or interest groups. They typically meet with legislators, advise on legislation, and advocate for specific outcomes. The term conveys professional, organized advocacy, often tied to political processes and governance.
- You may misplace the stress (saying LO-by-eists). Keep the primary stress on LO: /ˈlɒb.i.ɪsts/. - The middle vowel in i-syllable can be reduced or mispronounced; keep it as a short /ɪ/ rather than a long /iː/. - Final /sts/ cluster is tricky; avoid an overpronounced /t/; aim for a clean /ɪsts/ with a light /t/ release before /s/. - Blending across syllables is common; practice linking final consonants to the next word without altering the vowel in the preceding syllable. - In fast speech, you may add an extra vowel or syllable; keep it tight LO-bbi-ists.
"The lobbyists met with lawmakers to discuss the implications of the new environmental bill."
"Several prominent lobbyists argued that tax reform would harm mid-sized businesses."
"A coalition of lobbyists has pushed for stricter anti-corruption measures in campaigns."
Pronounce with stress on the first syllable: /ˈlɒb.i.ɪsts/ in US/UK; in Australian accents it remains /ˈlɒb.i.ɪsts/. Break it into LO-bee-ists: LO (lip rounding neutral) + bii (short i) + sts (soft s + t + s). The middle vowel is a short i /ɪ/ and the final cluster /-ɪsts/ is pronounced as /-ɪsts/. Mouth: start with a rounded but relaxed 'l', then /ɒ/ or /ɒ/ as in lot, then /b/ with a closed lips, /i/ as in the word “bit” but shorter, then /ɪ/ again; finish with /sts/ with a crisp /t/ + /s/. IPA: US /ˈlɑː.bi.ɪsts/ or /ˈlɒb.i.ɪsts/, UK /ˈlɒb.i.ɪsts/, AU /ˈlɒb.i.ɪsts/.
Common errors: misplacing stress (e.g., /ˈləb.i.ɪsts/), mispronouncing the vowel as long /ɑː/ or with a schwa in the first syllable. Correct by stressing the first syllable: /ˈlɒb.i.ɪsts/. Some speakers insert an extra syllable 'low-bee-ists' or drop the /ɪ/ before /sts/. Practice by segmenting: LO-bii-sts; ensure the final /ɪsts/ is compact, not /ɪs.təs/. Use minimal pairs like lobby vs lobbyist to tune the /ɒ/ vs /ɔ/ and the /ɪ/ in the suffix.
US/UK/AU share the same first syllable /ˈlɒb/; US often rhotic pronunciations may have posterior /ɹ/ if a linking sound appears, but in steady speech there’s no r in lobbyists itself. UK non-rhotic tendencies may drop r after vowels, though lobbyists doesn’t end in r. Vowel length and quality: US often has shorter /ɒ/ vs UK /ɒ/; AU tends toward a broad /ɒ/ with a slightly flattened /i/. Final /ɪsts/ remains stable but with minor vowel abnormalities; overall the rhythm remains trochaic. IPA references: US /ˈlɒb.i.ɪsts/ , UK /ˈlɒb.i.ɪsts/ , AU /ˈlɒb.i.ɪsts/.
It’s tricky because of the consonant cluster at the end /-bsts/ and the short, unstressed middle vowel in /-i.ɪ-/: the second syllable often reduces to a quick /ɪ/ and the /b/ blends with /ɪ/ before /sts/, which can blur to /bɪst/ or /biːst/. The saliva coordination for /l/ + /ɒ/ + /b/ + /ɪ/ + /sts/ requires precise timing; practice by isolating each segment and then linking them slowly.
Does the word have a silent letter? No; every letter in lobbyists contributes to pronunciation. The challenge is not silent letters but the rapid transition between /b/ and /ɪ/ and the final /sts/ cluster. Focus on the sequence LO-bi-ists, ensuring a crisp /b/ and compact /-ɪsts/; practice with slow-to-fast progression and sentence-context drills.
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- US: emphasize the first syllable; the /ɒ/ sound is broader; keep /l/ light but clear; maintain rhotics in connected speech. - UK: non-rhotic tendency may drop r; ensure /lɒb.i.ɪsts/ with clear /ɒ/; stress remains on first syllable; maintain crisp final /ts/. - AU: tends to more open /ɒ/ and a slightly longer vowel in /ɒ/; keep /ˈlɒb.i.ɪsts/ and avoid over-tapping the /b/; maintain clear /ɪ/ before /sts/ and avoid vowel lengthening.
Lobby originated in the 17th century, from French boire ‘to drink’ in “lobby,” a place for visitors to wait; however, the legal/lobbyist sense derives from the lobby of a legislative building where visitors would wait to meet officials. The modern sense of lobbying—attempting to influence political decisions—emerged in the 19th century United States, associated with organized groups seeking access to lawmakers. The suffix -ist denotes a person who practices or is associated with a field, thus lobbyist: someone who practices lobbying. The word spread with the expansion of interest-group activity in politics, and today it encompasses many variations, including corporate lobbyists, public-affairs consultants, and political advocates. First known uses appear in American political discourse in the mid-1800s, reflecting evolving norms around access, advocacy, and the professionalization of political work.
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Words that rhyme with "lobbyists"
-ies sounds
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