2 syllables: nick, els. Stress on nick.
NIK-uhlz
/ˈnɪkəlz/
nickels is pronounced NIK-uhlz (/ˈnɪkəlz/). It has two syllables (nick-els), with the stress on "nick". Nickels refers to the five-cent coins used in the United States; informally, it can mean a small amount of money or a small, incremental amount. It’s also used in phrases like “nickel-and-dime.” The word ends with a voiced -z plural and carries a light, unstressed final syllable in everyday speech. Core meaning centers on currency value and related idioms.
Nickels refers to the five-cent coins used in the United States; informally, it can mean a small amount of money or a small, incremental amount. It’s also used in phrases like “nickel-and-dime.” The word ends with a voiced -z plural and carries a light, unstressed final syllable in everyday speech. Core meaning centers on currency value and related idioms.
"I found some nickels in the couch cushions after cleaning."
"We paid with nickels and cents to make exact change."
"That old diner still accepts nickels for the jukebox."
Pronounce it as /ˈnɪ.kəlz/ in US and UK English, with primary stress on the first syllable. The second syllable is a reduced schwa /ərk/ sound but often heard as /kəl/ before the final /z/. Say: NIK-uhlz. Audio resources like Forvo or YouGlish can provide quick native examples.
Common errors include misplacing stress, saying /ˈnɪkəs/ or /ˈnɪkəl/ without the final z or with a too-strong /ɪ/ in the second syllable. Another frequent slip is turning the final /z/ into a /s/ in rapid speech. Correct by maintaining a clear /əl/ reduced vowel in the second syllable and voicing the final /z/: /ˈnɪ.kəlz/.
US and UK share /ˈnɪ.kəlz/ with a rhotic or non-rhotic quality depending on speaker. In US, the final /z/ is clearly voiced; in many UK accents, the vowel in the second syllable may be more centralized and slightly shorter, with a crisper /z/. Australian speakers tend to reduce the second syllable similarly to UK, but with a more pronounced vowel reduction in casual speech. Overall, the primary stress remains on the first syllable.
Two main challenges: the second syllable’s reduced vowel and the final voiced /z/. The /ɪ/ in the first syllable can be tricky if you’re not holding the tongue high enough; the /k/ and /l/ sequence in /kəl/ requires a rapid schwa approach, making the transition to /z/ delicate. Practice by isolating /nɪ/ then quickly glide to /kəlz/ with a controlled voicing for the final consonant.
A useful tip: emphasize the /nɪ/ with a crisp onset, then permit the second syllable to reduce to /kəl/ before the final /z/. Don’t add a strong vowel in the second syllable; let it stay short and quick: /ˈnɪ.kəlz/. This keeps the rhythm natural in connected speech and matches common American usage.
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The word nickel derives from the Old English word nicel? No. The coin itself was introduced in the United States in 1866 as a five-cent piece. The term nickel historically referred to the metal alloy used in the coin, later generalized to denote the coin itself. The specific word “nickel” is believed to originate from the German or Dutch term for the metal nickel, with influences from nickel-back references in mining and metallurgy. The plural “nickels” naturally forms with -s for English regular pluralization. Over time, colloquial usage expanded to idiomatic expressions like “nickel-and-dime,” signaling small or petty charges or matters. First knownU.S. minting of the modern nickel occurred during the Civil War era, and the term has since permeated American slang as both a monetary unit and a figurative marker of minor value: “nickel-and-dime” budgeting, “nickel-and-diming” practices, and associations with cheapness or small-scale transactions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "nickels" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "nickels"
-les sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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