/ɹiˈmaɪndɚz/
Say it backReminders are prompts or cues that jog your memory, typically in the form of notes, alerts, or messages. They help prevent forgetting tasks or events by prompting action at a designated time or context. The term spans everyday personal use and formal settings, where reminders support memory, organization, and scheduling.
"- I set reminders on my phone to take my medication."
"- The calendar sends reminders before meetings."
"- She left a reminder on the fridge to buy milk."
Pronounce as /rɪˈmaɪn.dərz/ in US and UK accents, with the primary stress on the second syllable: re-MIN-ders. The root sounds are /rɪ/ (short i), /maɪn/ (rhyme with mine) or /ˈmaɪn/ depending on accent, followed by /dərz/ (dər as in 'dər' with a schwa-like vowel, final z as /z/). In American English you may hear a fuller /ər/ before the final /z/. For clarity: rih-MYND-urz.
Two frequent errors: (1) treating the second syllable as a separate vowel like /riˈmɪndərz/ with a short /ɪ/ instead of /aɪ/; correct by aligning to /ɪˈmaɪn/ or /məˈn/ depending on analysis, but standard is /rɪˈmaɪndərz/. (2) Dropping the /d/ or blending /nd/ into a nasal blend; ensure the /d/ release is audible before /ər/. Also avoid pronouncing as /riˈmɪnz/ or /riˈmɪndɜrz/. Practice by isolating /maɪnd/ rather than /mind/.
US: /rɪˈmaɪndərz/, rhotic with pronounced /r/ and clear /ɪ/ in first syllable. UK: /rɪˈmaɪndəz/, non-syllabic /ə/ before final /z/ or /z/ with light schwa; may have a slightly reduced second syllable. AU: /rɪˈmaɪndəz/ with similar rhoticity to US but vowel quality can be flatter; final /z/ can be voiceless. Overall, main differences are vowel quality in the second syllable and the realization of final -ers as /-əz/ or /-ərz/ depending on rhoticity.
Because it combines a diphthong in the stressed vowel /aɪ/ with a consonant cluster /nd/ followed by a rhotacized or reduced ending /ərz/. The transition from /maɪn/ to /dərz/ requires precise timing of the /d/ release and a stable schwa or r-colored vowel in the final syllable. Additionally, rapid speech can blur the /d/ into the preceding /n/ and compress the vowels, making the word less distinct.
The consistent stress pattern on the second syllable (re-MIN-ders) and the /nd/ cluster followed by /ərz/ makes it susceptible to vowel reduction and tensing in rapid speech. Some speakers may voice the final /z/ more than the preceding /ər/ or reduce it to a prolonged /z/ if emphatic. The word’s plural form preserves the base pronunciation while adding an /-z/ ending, which can be a cue in connected speech.
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Reminders derives from the verb remind, which traces to Old French remembrer (to remember again) from rem- (again) + memorer (to remember), itself from Latin memoria (memory). The modern noun form reminders appeared in English by the 16th-17th centuries as phrases like reminders to memory or reminders of obligation evolved into single-word compounds. The sense broadened with the rise of written and electronic memory aids in the 20th century, from physical notes (“memory reminders”) to calendar alerts and notification systems. The core semantic shift centers on external cues designed to trigger recall, rather than internal memory alone. Early uses referenced personal memory aids; later, technological prompts expanded the term’s reach into devices and software that actively prompt users at scheduled times. First known usage citations appear in English lexicography in the 1600s, with steady growth parallel to administrative and organizational practices that rely on reminders for compliance, scheduling, and task management.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "reminders" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "reminders"
-ers sounds
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