mahr-SOO-pee-uhls
/mɑˈɹsupiəls/
Marsupials is pronounced mahr-SOO-pee-uhls (/mɑˈɹsupiəls/). Marsupials are a distinctive group of mammals that primarily give birth to underdeveloped offspring, which typically continue developing in a pouch. They include species like kangaroos and koalas, mainly in Australia and nearby regions. The term also covers ancient and some modern marsupial relatives, illustrating a unique reproductive strategy among mammals.
nounMarsupials are a distinctive group of mammals that primarily give birth to underdeveloped offspring, which typically continue developing in a pouch. They include species like kangaroos and koalas, mainly in Australia and nearby regions. The term also covers ancient and some modern marsupial relatives, illustrating a unique reproductive strategy among mammals.
Tips: slow down to isolate the /sjuː/ cluster, use a mild rounding for /juː/ and finish with a crisp /lz/; record and compare with native speakers to adjust the final vowel. Keep your lips rounded for the /juː/ blend, and avoid turning the ending into a dull /əlz/ without length.
"The Australian marsupials, such as kangaroos and koalas, are iconic symbols of the continent."
"Researchers study how marsupial development differs from placental mammals."
"Some marsupials have specialized pouches that protect and nurture their young."
Marsupials is pronounced /ˈmɑːr.sjuː.pɪəlz/ (US/UK variation). The primary stress falls on the first syllable: MAR-syu-pi-als. Start with /mɑːr/ (like 'mahr'), then a light /sjuː/ blend where the tongue rounds for 'syu', followed by /pɪəl/ with a schwa-like 'uh' before the 'l', and finish with a clear /z/. You’ll hear it most clearly in biology lectures and field guides—listen for the quick 'syu' cluster and the final voiced 'lz' ending.
Two common errors are misplacing the stress (saying maR-SU-pials) and flattening the 'syu' cluster into a hard 's' sound (s-yer instead of sjuː). Another pitfall is mispronouncing the ending as '-als' (/æls/) instead of /əlz/. Correction: stress the first syllable MAR-; blend the middle as /ɹsjuː/ or /sjuː/ without breaking into separate 's' and 'yu' sounds; finish with /əlz/, not /æls/.
US tends to a strong /ˈmɑːr.sjuː.pɪ.əlz/ with rhotic first syllable and a pronounced /əlz/ ending. UK often features a slightly shorter /ˈmɑː.sjuː.pɪ.əlz/ and more rounded /juː/ in the middle. Australian tends to a more centralized /ˈmɑːsjuː.pi.əɫz/ with vowel quality shifting toward /ə/ in the final syllable and a non-rhotic feel in some speakers. Focus on the /sjuː/ cluster and the final /əlz/ in all accents.
The difficulty stems from the consonant cluster /sju/ after the initial /mɑːr/ and the final /əlz/. The /ɹ/ vs /ɹ/ rhotics, subtle vowel shifts in /ɑː/ and /ɪ/ across dialects, and the trailing /l/ before /z/ can trip learners. Practice the /sjuː/ blend slowly, ensure you don’t turn /ju/ into /jə/ or /iː/. Keep the tongue close to the alveolar ridge for the /s/ and move into a rounded /juː/
A unique angle is the 'syu' sequence: /sjuː/ as a palatalized cluster after the initial /mɑː/. Some speakers reduce the /j/ in fast speech, sounding like /suː/; this is typically a casual form and can lead to misidentification with other words. Emphasize the /sjuː/ to avoid slurring into /suː/. Recording yourself helps identify whether you’re preserving the aspirated /s/ before /juː/.
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Marsupial comes from the Modern Latin marsupialis, derived from the Greek marsupion, a diminutive of marsipos meaning 'pouch' or 'bag.' The term was adopted in zoological taxonomy to describe mammals that carry and nurse their young in a pouch after birth. The broader concept traces to the classification Metatheria, which encompasses marsupials as distinct from Eutheria (placental mammals). The first scientific use of 'marsupial' in English dates to the 19th century, aligning with taxonomic work that categorized Australian mammals based on reproductive traits rather than external morphology alone. The word evolved alongside studies of the Australian fauna, with early naturalists noting the pouch as a defining trait. In modern usage, 'marsupial' references a clade including kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, possums, opossums, and related species, and it is commonly used in evolutionary biology to discuss divergent reproductive strategies, biogeography, and developmental biology across metatherians.
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Words that rhyme with "Marsupials"
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