2 syllables: Nar, cos. Stress on Nar.
NAHR-kohs
/ˈnɑɹkoʊs/
Narcos is pronounced NAHR-kohs (/ˈnɑɹkoʊs/). It has two syllables (Nar-cos), with the stress on "Nar". Narcos is a plural noun referring to people involved in the illegal drug trade, often used as a shorthand for drug traffickers or a term associated with narcotics cartels. In contemporary usage, it also denotes the popular TV series about Colombian drug lords. The word is pronounced with two syllables and a clear final s, typically used in English contexts and media discussions about drug trafficking.
nounNarcos is a plural noun referring to people involved in the illegal drug trade, often used as a shorthand for drug traffickers or a term associated with narcotics cartels. In contemporary usage, it also denotes the popular TV series about Colombian drug lords. The word is pronounced with two syllables and a clear final s, typically used in English contexts and media discussions about drug trafficking.
"The Narcos pursued their rivals across the border."
"Season three of Narcos delves into the Medellín cartel’s operations."
"Several Narcos were arrested after a lengthy investigation."
Pronounce as /ˈnɑːr.kɒs/ in UK/AU and /ˈnɑːr.koʊs/ in US English. Put primary stress on the first syllable: NAHR-koss. The second syllable begins with a hard ‘k’ followed by a short ‘o’ vowel and a soft ‘s’ at the end. Mouth position: start with an open back vowel, then transition to a velar stop, and end with an unvoiced s. Listen for the crisp ending.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing the stress, saying naRcos with stress on the second syllable. Correction: emphasize the first syllable: NAHR-koss. (2) Mispronouncing the second vowel, saying ‘nar-cohss’ with a long o; correct as a short o sound /ɒ/ or /oʊ/ depending on accent, keeping it short before the final s. (3) Adding a vowel between r and k or confusing the final s with a z sound; keep the sequence ‘r’ then ‘k’ then ‘s’ unvoiced.
In US English, /ˈnɑːr.koʊs/ with a rhotic r; the second syllable uses a tense mid-back vowel before /k/. In UK English, /ˈnɑː.kɒs/ with a non-rhotic r and a shorter, clipped final vowel; the second syllable uses /ɒ/ as in cot. In Australian English, /ˈnɑː.kɒs/ similar to UK, but with more vowel width and glottalization tendencies in casual speech; final s remains voiceless. Practice matching the rhythm and keeping a crisp /k/ and /s/.
Key challenges: (1) The sequence /nɑːr/ includes a dense back-vowel followed by a rolling/r-colored sound in some speakers; (2) The second syllable carries a tense, short open vowel before /k/, which can drift to /koʊ/ in US speakers; (3) Ending with a voiceless /s/ can sound hissy if not fully released. Focus on keeping a clean /k/ onset, short /o/ or /ɒ/ vowel, and unvoiced /s/.
A unique feature is the crisp, non-sonorant coda cluster /rkos/ in many speakers: r + k + s occurs with minimal vowel length between r and k; the final /s/ is aspirated in most dialects. The stress on the first syllable combined with a fast transition into the second syllable makes the start feel strong and punchy. Focus on keeping /ɹ/ or /r/ light in non-rhotic varieties and ensure /k/ is released clearly.
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Narcos derives from the Spanish narcotraficante, formed from narcotraficante (narcotics trafficker) combining narcotra‑ (narcotics, narcotics trade) with -tráfico (traffic, trade). In English, narco- is a productive prefix in crime-related vocabulary (narco-state, narco-trafficking). The plural Narcos mirrors Spanish plural -os as a masculine or mixed-group ending in many proper nouns and loanwords. The contemporary English use proliferated through media coverage of drug cartel activity and later the Netflix series Narcos (2015–2017), which popularized the term in global audiences. First known English attestations as a shorthand for drug traffickers appear in late 20th century police and news reportage, with the term becoming iconic through pop culture portrayals, particularly within Latin American cartel discourse. Over time, Narcos has also adopted a brand-like resonance, occurring both as a descriptive plural and as a titled reference for the series and media franchises. Today, Narcos functions across formal journalism, academic discussions of narcotics networks, and informal conversation among English speakers discussing drug crime. The word’s international roots reflect cross-border crime reporting and cinematic storytelling’s global reach, cementing Narcos as both a descriptive term and a cultural label.
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Words that rhyme with "Narcos"
-cos sounds
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