2 syllables: mi, grant. Stress on mi.
MEYE-gruhnt
/ˈmaɪɡɹənt/
migrant is pronounced MEYE-gruhnt (/ˈmaɪɡɹənt/). It has two syllables (mi-grant), with the stress on "mi". Migrant refers to a person who moves from one country or region to another, typically for work, asylum, or better living conditions. It describes the act or status of moving across borders, often for economic, political, or environmental reasons. The term is neutral and commonly used in academic, policy, and everyday discussion about population movement.
Migrant refers to a person who moves from one country or region to another, typically for work, asylum, or better living conditions. It describes the act or status of moving across borders, often for economic, political, or environmental reasons. The term is neutral and commonly used in academic, policy, and everyday discussion about population movement.
- You may default to a two-beat rhythm with a heavy second syllable; instead keep the second syllable lighter with /ə/ and a crisp final /nt/. - Many non-native speakers mispronounce the /ɡ/ by pausing after it or letting it soften, causing /maɪ.dʒrənt/; keep /ɡ/ as a hard stop before /rənt/. - Final cluster issues: some say /-ənt/ too long or drop the /t/; practice a quick but audible /nt/ to avoid clipping. - Overemphasis on /maɪ/ at the expense of /rənt/. Aim for even distribution and natural stress on the first syllable while keeping the second syllable brief.
"The migrant worker sent money home to support his family."
"Policy debates focus on the rights and integration of migrants in urban areas."
"A large number of migrants crossed the border seeking better opportunities."
Pronounce as /ˈmaɪ.ɡrənt/ in US, UK, and AU. The primary stress is on the first syllable: MĪ- (maɪ) with a long /aɪ/ sound, followed by a reduced /ə/ in the second syllable and a final /nt/. Tip: make the /ɡ/ a light single touch between /ɪ/ and /rənt/. Audio reference: consult Cambridge or Oxford dictionary audio for /ˈmaɪɡrənt/ variants.
Two common errors are overpronouncing the second syllable as /ɪˈɡrant/ or inserting an extra vowel: /ˈmaɪɡrə-nt/ with a full /ə/ length. Another pitfall is misplacing the /ɡ/ and turning it into a /dʒ/ sound or inserting a vowel after /t/ (e.g., /ˈmaɪˈɡreɪnt/). Correction: keep /ɡ/ as a clear velar stop, reduce the second syllable to a schwa /ə/, and end with a clean /nt/. Practice with minimal pairs: /maɪ/ vs /maɪə/ and /ɡrənt/ vs /ɡrent/ to stabilize rhythm.
In US/UK/AU, the word is consistently /ˈmaɪɡrənt/. The rhotic US accent keeps a clear /ɹ/ in the second syllable; UK and AU may have a slightly weaker rhoticity, with more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable. Vowel quality in /maɪ/ remains a diphthong in all; the final /nt/ is typically unreleased or lightly released in rapid speech across regions. Overall rhythm is trochaic: strong-weak, but the exact vowel color can vary subtly by accent.
Two main challenges: the diphthong /aɪ/ in the first syllable and the short, unstressed /ə/ in the second syllable. The /ɡ/ is a hard, palatalized velar stop that can blend with following /r/ in rapid speech, creating coarticulation effects. Also, the final /nt/ can be pronounced as a nasal stop plus alveolar stop or as a simplified /nt/ cluster depending on tempo. Focus on isolating /maɪ/ and keeping /rənt/ distinct.
No. 'Migrant' has all its letters pronounced: /ˈmaɪɡrənt/. The key is not silent letters but the reduction of the second syllable to a schwa and the crisp /t/ at the end. Ensure the /ɡ/ is not turned into /dʒ/ or blended with /r/. Emphasize the initial /maɪ/ and the tail /rənt/ for clear articulation.
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- US: pronounce /ˈmaɪɡrənt/ with a clear rhotic /ɹ/ in the second syllable; ensure the /ɡ/ is velar and not palatalized. The /ə/ in /rənt/ is reduced but not swallowed; keep it mid-central. - UK: /ˈmaɪɡrənt/ with slightly less rhoticity; the /ə/ may be more centralized, and the /t/ might be lightly released. - AU: similar to US but often with a flatter intonation; maintain non-fully rhotic /ɹ/ and crisp final /t/. Practice with IPA references and mimic native speech from Pronounce or Forvo. - Vowel focus: /aɪ/ as a tight diphthong; avoid turning it into a long /eɪ/. - Consonant focus: /ɡ/ should be a strong stop; ensure not to blend into /ŋ/ or /dʒ/.
Migrant comes from the Latin migrans, present participle of migrare, meaning to move or change place. The root migra- (to move) traces to Latin migrare, with cognates across Romance languages. The form migrant entered English via Old French migrant and Late Middle English through Latin-influenced intermediaries, reflecting a long-standing interest in movement across borders. The concept of migration has ancient roots in human history, with records of seasonal and voluntary movement found in classical civilizations. In modern usage, migrant often emphasizes movement across political boundaries rather than internal relocation, though both senses exist. The term has gained widespread scholarly and policy relevance in demographic studies, labor markets, and international relations, where it is used to describe people who cross borders for work, asylum, or settlement. First known uses appear in medieval and early modern legal and ecclesiastical texts that discuss pilgrims and travelers, evolving in the 19th and 20th centuries to denote cross-border mobility in secular contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "migrant" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "migrant"
-ent sounds
-ant sounds
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