/ˈpɝsənz/
Say it backPersons is the plural of person, used to refer to multiple individuals. It appears in formal or legal contexts and in more general discourse as a count noun. The word carries contrastive stress with surrounding discourse and is often found in phrases like “the two persons involved.”
"A number of persons were interviewed for the report."
"The two persons on the call agreed to share the data."
"Unknown persons left messages at the desk."
Pronounce as PER-sənz with two syllables. Primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈpɜːr.sənz/ in US and UK, and /ˈpɜː.sənz/ in Australian speech. The first vowel is a stressed mid-central vowel /ɜː/ (like ‘bird’ without r-coloring in non-rhotic contexts), the second vowel is schwa /ə/ in many rapid pronunciations, and the final consonant is voiced /z/. In careful speech, you may hear a clearer /ən/ sequence: /ˈpɜːr.sənz/. Audio references: try Cambridge Dictionary online or Forvo sample clips for native speakers saying “persons.”
Common errors include: (1) reducing the first syllable to a short, lax vowel like /ɪ/ or /ə/, which weakens the stress; (2) mispronouncing the final /z/ as /s/ or as an unvoiced /z̥/ in careful speech; (3) pronouncing /pɜːr/ with an American rhotic /ɹ/ in non-rhotic contexts, or misplacing the /r/ in British listeners’ expectation. Correction tips: keep the first syllable with a clear /ɜː/ (or /ɜːr/ in rhotic accents), avoid shrinking the second vowel into a reduced vowel, and ensure the final /z/ is voiced. Practice minimal pairs like “person” vs “persons” to feel the extra /z/ at the end and keep volume consistent across syllables.
In US English you’ll typically hear /ˈpɜːr.sənz/ with rhoticity; the /r/ is pronounced, and the second syllable features a strong /ən/; final /z/ is voiced. In UK English, non-rhotic tendencies may reduce the /r/ after the first syllable to a schwa-like quality, yielding /ˈpɜː.sənz/. In Australian English, you’ll hear /ˈpɜː.sənz/ with a clear /ɜː/ and a postvocalic /z/; the final vowel of the second syllable remains schwa-like but slightly longer. Overall, vowel quality and rhoticity vary, but the word retains two vowels and a voiced final z across accents.
The word challenges you with a cluster of features: a strong initial stressed syllable with /ɜː/ that can be mispronounced as /ɪ/ or /ɛ/; a second syllable that often uses a quick /ən/ where the schwa can be reduced or elided in fast speech; and a final voiced /z/ that must stay sonorous without turning into /s/ or /ɪz/ in rapid conversation. Additionally, coordinating the mouth shape for the mid-central vowel /ɜː/ while maintaining a clean /z/ requires careful phonetic control. Practicing slow, then gradual speed helps stabilize articulations for all three segments.
Is there any subtle vowel length difference in 'persons' across registers? Answer: In careful, standard pronunciation, the first syllable /ˈpɜːr/ features a long or tense /ɜː/ vowel in many varieties of English, especially in American and Australian speech, while UK speakers may perceive it as a slightly shorter rounded quality. In rapid speech, the /ɜː/ can shift toward a shorter central vowel and the second syllable may reduce further, but the primary stress remains on the first syllable. Pay attention to the vowel’s duration in careful pronunciation to keep the word sounding precise in formal contexts.
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Persons originates from Middle English person, borrowed from Old French personne, derived from Latin persona, meaning a mask, character, or face. The root persona likely comes from Greek prosopon meaning ‘face, mask’ (prosōpon). In Latin, personae referred to a mask or character in a stage play; later, it broadened to mean a human being in a legal or social sense. The English form person evolved into persons in the plural, with the s- suffix regularizing the plural by analogy to other nouns ending in -on or -an in early modern English. By the 14th–15th centuries, “persons” was well established in legal and administrative language, while “people” persisted as a more general plural for human beings. The semantic shift toward counting individuals in formal contexts occurred alongside the rise of legal and bureaucratic documents, where “persons” distinguished individuals in a population from abstract quantities. In modern usage, “persons” is common in official, legal, or formal registers, and it often appears in phrases like “persons located,” “two persons involved,” or “the persons in question.” Modern usage retains the plural with or without an explicit count and remains a standard term in documentation and policy language.
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Help others use "persons" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "persons" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "persons" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "persons"
-ons sounds
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