2 syllables: on, set. Stress on on.
AHN-set
/ˈɑˌnsɛt/
onset is pronounced AHN-set (/ˈɑˌnsɛt/). It has two syllables (on-set), with the stress on "on". Onset refers to the beginning or start of something, or in linguistics, the initial consonant or consonant cluster of a syllable before the vowel. It denotes the onset portion of a syllable, often contrasted with the rhyme. In general use, it signals the start of an event, process, or period of action.
Onset refers to the beginning or start of something, or in linguistics, the initial consonant or consonant cluster of a syllable before the vowel. It denotes the onset portion of a syllable, often contrasted with the rhyme. In general use, it signals the start of an event, process, or period of action.
"The onset of winter brought heavy snowfall to the region."
"He emphasized the onset of his career with a series of bold performances."
"Researchers noted a rapid onset of symptoms after exposure."
Pronounce as /ˈɒnˌsɛt/ in UK English or /ˈɔnˌsɛt/ in US English, with primary stress on the first syllable. The vowels are short and crisp: the first syllable has a short open front vowel near /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ depending on accent, followed by a clear /n/. The second syllable uses a lax /sɛ/ with a alveolar /t/ at the end. Practice by isolating the first syllable with a crisp onset and then add the /sɛt/ remainder without linking to the previous sound. Audio practice can help; use resources like Pronounce or Forvo for native examples.
Common errors include stressing the second syllable (onn-SET) or blending the /n/ into a nasalized /m/ before the /s/, and pronouncing /t/ with excessive aspiration. Correct by keeping primary stress on the first syllable, ensuring a clean /n/ before /s/, and releasing /t/ without extra puff. Work on a short, clipped /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ in the first vowel and avoid adding a vowel between /n/ and /s/.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˈɔnˌsɛt/ with a slightly rounded first vowel and a light, fast /t/ at the end; in UK English, /ˈɒnˌset/ with a shorter /ɒ/ and crisper /t/. Australian English often aligns with UK patterns but can be broader on the first vowel and may have more flapped or alveolar release variants depending on speaker. Focus on keeping the first syllable open and the second syllable concise.
The challenge lies in balancing a clear, short first vowel with a dense consonant cluster: /n/ immediately followed by /s/ and a final /t/. Some speakers nasalize the /n/ or insert a vowel, producing /ˈɔnəsɛt/ or /ˈɔnˌsɪt/. The fix is strict segmentation: strong /n/, then a crisp /s/ before a decisive /t/, with primary stress on the first syllable. Practice with slow tempos, then reintroduce speed.
The onset is not a single sound but a cluster boundary. Treat it as three elements: /ɒ/ (or /ɑ/ depending on accent) + /n/ + /s/ at the start of the syllable, then /ɛt/ as the nucleus and coda. Keep tongue tip high for /n/, blade near alveolar ridge for /s/, and a quick, light touch for /t/. This helps you avoid misplacing the /s/ or merging the /t/ with a following vowel or /d/ in rapid speech.
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Onset comes from the Middle English onset, from Old English onsætan, consisting of on- (on, toward) + setan (to set, place). The term originally referred to a position at which something begins, such as the set of actions at the start of a campaign or movement. In linguistics, the word was adopted to describe the initial consonant or consonant cluster of a syllable, in contrast to the rime (the vowel and any following consonants). The broader sense of “beginning” emerged in common usage by the 15th–16th centuries, while the linguistic sense of onset as a phonological term solidified with later work in phonology and syllable structure theory in the 19th and 20th centuries. First known use as a general term traces to Old English records, with documentary appearances in Middle English texts showing its evolution from a physical position to a conceptual starting point. The transition from concrete spatial meaning to abstract temporal/phonological use reflects the language’s historical tendency to reframe spatial terms as temporal or structural concepts. In modern linguistics, onset is a standard term in syllable analysis, paired with nucleus (vowel) and coda (following consonants).
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "onset" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "onset" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "onset"
-net sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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