2 syllables: Nos, trils. Stress on Nos.
NAH-struhlz
/ˈnɑstɹəlz/
Nostrils is pronounced NAH-struhlz (/ˈnɑstɹəlz/). It has two syllables (Nos-trils), with the stress on "Nos". Nostrils is the plural form of nostril, the external openings of the nasal passages. It refers to the two openings through which air enters and exits the nose. In everyday use it can describe anatomy or actions related to sniffing or breathing.
nounNostrils is the plural form of nostril, the external openings of the nasal passages. It refers to the two openings through which air enters and exits the nose. In everyday use it can describe anatomy or actions related to sniffing or breathing.
"She pressed the tissue to her nostrils after the sneeze."
"He wrinkled his nose, noticing the strong odor near the nostrils."
"The doctor examined the nostrils for any obstruction."
US: /ˈnɒs.trəlz/ or /ˈnɑː.strəlz/ depending on speaker; UK: /ˈnɒs.trəlz/; AU: /ˈnɒs.trəlz/. The stress is on the first syllable. Start with a rounded, short o for 'nost-' and quickly move to a schwa-like or 'ə' in the second syllable before the final 'lz' cluster. Try saying 'naw-str-uhls' with a light, quick -lZ ending. IPA guides help but listen to native samples to capture the tensing and light alveolar release in the second syllable.
Two frequent errors: (1) stuffing the 'l' sound and merging syllables so it sounds like 'nos-trilz' with a reduced second syllable, (2) misplacing the /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ and blending it with a 's' leading to 'nost-lish' or 'naw-tr-els'. Correction: keep a crisp /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ in the first syllable, then a short, clear /tr/ onset for the second syllable, and finish with a clear /əlz/. Practice with minimal pairs like 'nostrils' vs 'nostril' to feel the extra syllable.
US speakers tend to clear the 'r' and may reduce the middle vowel slightly, yielding /ˈnɑstrəlz/; UK voices favor a shorter /ɒ/ and a crisper /str/ cluster, yielding /ˈnɒstrəlz/; Australian tends toward a broader /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ with a slightly slower, more open /ə/ in the final syllable, giving /ˈnɒstrəlz/ or /ˈnɔːstrəlz/. Overall, rhoticity is a key differentiator (US often rhotic with /ɹ/); however, 'nostrils' remains fairly stable across varieties in the final -z pronunciation. Listen to native samples to hear subtle vowel shifts.
The difficulty lies in the /ɑː/ vs /ɒ/ vowel distinction in stressed open syllable and in accurately producing the /str/ cluster without intrusive vowel sounds. The transition from /n/ to /ɒstr/ requires tight tongue control to avoid a nasalized or slurred second syllable. Additionally, the final /lz/ combines a voiced alveolar fricative and alveolar lateral approximant, which can blur if the mouth doesn’t stay relaxed. Focus on clean stop after /str/ and a crisp /əlz/ ending.
The most unique element is the precise articulation of the /str/ cluster immediately after the initial /n/. This requires the tongue to quickly switch from the alveolar nasal to a strong alveolar fricative with a following triplet release into /r/ before the /əlz/. Many learners misplace the /t/ or blur the /str/ into /s/; practicing with minimal pairs and careful lip-tap timing helps. Maintain a steady airflow to avoid nasalization before the /str/.
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Nostrils comes from Middle English nostren, from Old English nostril, rooted in Proto-Germanic *nos-truz, related to the Latin nasus for nose and Ancient Greek rhis?as. The term originally described the external openings of the nose and later narrowed to specifically mean the external nostril apertures. The root nostr- is linked with sensing and breathing through the nose. The word evolved with the suffix -il/-ril from Latin -illus/diminutive formations in Rhin-? terms, and by Early Modern English it standardized as nostril(s). First known use appears in medieval anatomy texts, reflecting a focus on facial anatomy and respiration, gradually expanding to general descriptive use in literature and medicine. Over time, nostril as a pluralized noun became commonplace in everyday speech, while nostrils retained primary anatomical meaning.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Nostrils" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Nostrils"
-ils sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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