3 syllables: Py, ja, mas. Stress on ja.
puh-JAM-uhz
/pəˈdʒæ.məz/
Pyjamas is pronounced puh-JAM-uhz (/pəˈdʒæ.məz/). It has three syllables (Py-ja-mas), with the stress on "ja". Pyjamas is a noun for a loose-fitting garment worn for sleeping, typically a top and bottom set. In British usage it refers to sleepwear and is pronounced with a soft, unstressed first syllable and a stressed second, followed by a light, final syllable. The word covers both sleepwear and informal homewear contexts, and is commonly used in British English and Commonwealth varieties.
nounPyjamas is a noun for a loose-fitting garment worn for sleeping, typically a top and bottom set. In British usage it refers to sleepwear and is pronounced with a soft, unstressed first syllable and a stressed second, followed by a light, final syllable. The word covers both sleepwear and informal homewear contexts, and is commonly used in British English and Commonwealth varieties.
- You, singularly, may misplace the stress to the first syllable; practice ˆpəˈdʒæ.məzˈ with beat on second syllable to train natural rhythm. - Another common error is mispronouncing the /dʒ/ as /dj/ or /j/; keep it as a single affricate /dʒ/ with immediate handover to the vowel. - A third error is reducing the final /əz/ to /æ/ or /æz/; maintain /- məz/ with a soft z. - Finally, non-native speakers may insert extra vowels in the second syllable; keep it short and crisp with a single /æ/ or /ə/ depending on dialect.
"I put on my pyjamas before curling up with a book."
"The pyjamas are in the washing machine, so I’ll wear gym clothes tonight."
"She bought a new set of striped pyjamas for the winter."
Pronounce as /pəˈdʒæ.məz/ (UK/Commonwealth) or /ˈpaɪ.dʒə.məz/ (US-tuned). Stress is on the second syllable: py-JA-mas. Start with a light schwa or reduced vowel in syllable 1, then a voiced dʒ sound as in judge, followed by æ in the stressed syllable and a final -məz with a softened z. Listen for the light, almost schwa-like first syllable and the palatal affricate /dʒ/.
Common mistakes: 1) Misplacing stress on the first syllable (PY-ja-mas) — ensure secondary stress on the second syllable /ˈdʒæ/. 2) Pronouncing the initial vowel as a full ‘pye’ or ‘pie’ vowel; use a reduced /ə/ or /pə/. 3) Misarticulating /dʒ/ as /j/ or /tʃ/; keep it as a voiced palatal affricate /dʒ/. 4) Final -mas pronounced as /mæs/ or /məz/ without a clear /-əz/; aim for /-məz/ with a soft z. Correct by practicing with minimal pairs and listening to native audio.
UK/Commonwealth preserves /pəˈdʒæ.məz/ with a reduced first syllable and a clear /æ/ in the stressed second syllable; rhoticity is non-rhotic generally. US tends toward /ˈpaɪ.dʒəˌmæz/ or /ˈpædʒəˌmɑːz/ depending on speaker, with a more pronounced /aɪ/ or /æ/ in first syllable and pronounced /ˈdʒə/ in the second syllable; Australian often overlaps UK patterns but can show a more centralized first syllable and a slightly broader vowel in the second syllable. Expect less rhoticity in UK; more rhotic by some US speakers when careful, but generally non-rhotic as well.
The difficulty centers on the initial syllable: a reduced /pə/ with a seamlessly connected /dʒ/ onset in the second syllable, and a final /əz/ or /əz/ syllable. The /dʒ/ cluster is easy to mispronounce as /j/ or /tʃ/; the mid-open vowel /æ/ in the stressed syllable can be tricky for non-native speakers. Also, mixing up the British /əˈdʒæ/ vs US /ˈpaɪ.dʒə/ patterns can cause confusion. Focus on: 1) maintaining a soft, almost schwa first syllable, 2) direct, crisp /dʒ/ onset, 3) final /əz/ with a light z.
A unique angle is the contrast between the reduced first syllable and the clear second syllable with /æ/ or /ə/ depending on accent, which makes the vowel sequence particularly challenging for speakers who aren’t used to predicting schwa in connected speech. Additionally, the US variant sometimes uses an unstressed first syllable leading to /ˈpaɪ.dʒə.məz/ vs the British /pəˈdʒæ.məz/; the second syllable’s vowel often shifts slightly with connected speech. Listen to native speech to decide which variant your audience expects.
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- US: Expect more rhotic influence and a slightly longer first syllable with /æ/ or /ə/ depending on region; UK/AU: common use /pəˈdʒæ.məz/ with strong second-syllable stress and a crisp /dʒ/; AU shares rhotic tendencies but may soften the final vowel to /ə/ in casual speech. - Vowel quality: pay attention to the /æ/ in the stressed syllable, and avoid turning it into /eɪ/ or /ɛ/. - Consonants: keep /dʒ/ as a single affricate; avoid a separate /d/ and /ʒ/ sequence. - Rhythm: the word tends toward two beats: weak-strong-weak, with the second syllable carrying the strongest peak.
Pyjamas derives from the Persian word pajama, from the Urdu paejama, from the Marathi paijama, all denoting leg clothing. The term entered English via Indian subcontinent languages during British colonial contact in the 18th–19th centuries. Initially referring to loose trousers worn beneath robes, the word evolved in Western usage to describe sleepwear consisting of a top and trousers. In British English, pyjamas (British spelling) is standard, while American English favors pajamas. The spelling and pronunciation settled around the late 19th to early 20th centuries as ready-made nightwear became common in Western wardrobes, with the two-syllable rhythm and the strong second syllable in many stressed forms. The concept of combining top and bottom under one garment is tied to the broader fashion shift toward comfortable, informal homewear during the Victorian era’s evolution into modern sleepwear. The term’s global spread aligns with colonization, trade, and fashion globalization, cementing its place in everyday lexicon across English-speaking regions.
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Words that rhyme with "Pyjamas"
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