2 syllables: Lyr, ics. Stress on Lyr.
LIR-iks
/ˈlɪɹɪks/
Lyrics is pronounced LIR-iks (/ˈlɪɹɪks/). It has two syllables (Lyr-ics), with the stress on "Lyr". Lyrics refers to the words of a song, poem, or chant and can also denote the collection of such words within a musical composition. In everyday use, it often means the lyric content that singers sing to accompany a tune. The term emphasizes the verbal/textual aspect of music, contrasting with melody or harmony.
nounLyrics refers to the words of a song, poem, or chant and can also denote the collection of such words within a musical composition. In everyday use, it often means the lyric content that singers sing to accompany a tune. The term emphasizes the verbal/textual aspect of music, contrasting with melody or harmony.
"She poured her heart into the lyrics of the ballad."
"The famous singer struggled to connect with the lyrics during the performance."
"Songwriting classes focus on crafting compelling lyrics and melodies."
Lyrics is pronounced LAIR-icks with the primary stress on the first syllable. IPA US/UK/AU: ˈlɪr.ɪks. In careful speech you might hear a slight schwa in the second syllable, but typically it’s a crisp /ɪ/ followed by /r/ and /ɪks/. If you’re singing, you’ll match the vowel quality to the surrounding notes but retain the initial stress: ˈlɪrɪks.
Common errors include misplacing the stress, saying LI-riks or LYR-iks. Another frequent mistake is pronouncing the second syllable as a strong schwa rather than /ɪ/ in casual speech. To correct: keep the first syllable stressed as /ˈlɪr/ and reduce the second to /ɪks/ with a light final /s/. Practice saying ‘LYR-ics’ slowly, then accelerate while keeping the first syllable prominent.
Across accents, the vowel in the first syllable is consistently /ɪ/ in US/UK/AU, but rhoticity affects connected speech: in rhotic accents you’ll hear a subtle /r/ in the first syllable; in non-rhotic varieties, it’s weaker or nonpronounced in some contexts. The /s/ ending remains /s/. Overall, US tends toward a marginally tensed /ɪ/; UK often preserves a crisp /ɪ/ with less tongue height variation; AU mirrors US/UK but may show broader diphthongization in rapid speech.
The difficulty stems from the cluster /rɪks/ at the end and the potential yod-like movement in rapid speech, plus the need to keep stress on the first syllable in a word that is consonant- and vowel-heavy. Beginners may blur the /r/ and shorten the first syllable, turning ˈlɪrɪks into lil-riks. Focus on sustaining the /ɪ/ vowel in the first syllable and releasing a clean /ks/ cluster without vocalization into a vowel sound.
There is no silent letter in Lyrics; all letters contribute to the sound. A common trap is dropping the second syllable entirely in casual speech, or smoothing the /r/ too aggressively in non-rhotic dialects. Keep the syllables audible: /ˈlɪr/ and /ɪks/. The “r” is pronounced in rhotic varieties; in others, it may be a weaker approximant. Maintain the /s/ ending to avoid confusion with ‘lyric’ (which ends with /ɪk/).
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US: Rhotic, clearer /r/; keep /ɡ/ not involved; pronounce /ˈlɪrɪks/ with a full /ɹ/ at onset. UK: Non-rhotic typically; the /r/ is weaker; maintain crisp /l/ and final /ks/. AU: Similar to US but with a slightly centralized vowel; avoid drawing out the /ɪ/ into a schwa; keep the final /s/ crisp. IPA guidance: US /ˈlɪɹɪks/; UK /ˈlɪrɪks/; AU /ˈlɪɹɪks/; note the optional syllabic r influence in rapid speech, especially in connected phrases.
Lyrics comes from the plural noun lyrics, derived from late Latin lyricus meaning ‘lyric,’ from Greek lukrikos meaning ‘of or for the lyre,’ which itself derives from lyra meaning ‘lyre.’ The term entered English via Latin and Greek scholarly usage to denote the words of songs or poems, especially those written to be sung with a melody. Historically, lyric poetry distinguished itself from epic and dramatic poetry by its personal, musical nature. In musicology, “lyrics” has long described the sung textual component of songs, particularly in contemporary popular music where the contrast between lyrics and musical accompaniment is salient. The word’s use as a mass noun to refer to the collected words of a song gained prominence in the 19th and 20th centuries with the rise of printed songbooks and lyric sheets. Today, “lyrics” is ubiquitous in digital media, performance contexts, and music criticism, with the term often appearing in discussions of lyric writing and lyric videos.
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Words that rhyme with "Lyrics"
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