Scouts refers to individuals who explore or survey an area, or to members of a scouting organization who are trained to observe, report, and assist. In plural form, it denotes a group of such people or the role of being a scout in various contexts, including professional, military, or recreational settings. The term emphasizes reconnaissance, vigilance, and early information gathering across fields.
US & AU accents are Premium
Unlock all accent variations
- Do not shorten the /aʊ/ to a simple /ɑ/ or /ɔ/; keep the diphthong intact as /aʊ/ as in ‘how.’ - Don’t swallow the /t/; ensure a crisp release before the /s/ to produce /ts/ rather than /s/ or /t/ sound merged. - Avoid adding an extra vowel after /s/; final cluster should be /ts/, not /tɪz/ or /s/ alone. - In rapid speech, ensure the /t/ is not completely silent; maintain a brief closure before /s/ to preserve the cluster. - Keep the initial /sk/ cluster clear; mispronouncing as /s/ or /k/ separately can dilute the word’s compact onset.
US: Clear /aʊ/ with a slightly longer duration before /t/; keep rhotic context in surrounding phrases but within the word the /r/ is absent. UK: Slightly tamer /aʊ/, crisper /t/, and more precise end /s/. AU: Similar to US but with less vowel rounding in /aʊ/ and faster transit to the /t/ release. Across all, ensure slight lip rounding for /aʊ/ and a crisp, unvoiced /t/ followed by /s/.
"The scouts surveyed the shoreline for signs of erosion."
"She earned a badge after completing the scouts’ wilderness first aid course."
"Local scouts helped map the hiking trail for the conservation project."
" scouts met at dawn to practice navigation and survival skills."
Scouts comes from the verb scout, meaning to observe or reconnoiter, from Old French escouter ‘to listen for, to scout out,’ from Late Latin auscultare ‘to listen,’ from Latin auscultare ‘to listen’ (from ausus ‘heard’). The sense of a person who explores or surveys emerges in English in the 14th–15th centuries, often in military and border contexts, evolving to describe civilian organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America founded in 1910. The root idea centers on careful observation, reconnaissance, and early gathering of information. Over time, the term broadened to both singular and plural usages to describe individuals who practice scouting in various domains—from wilderness navigation and security to talent scouting in entertainment and sports. The word retains connotations of vigilance, curiosity, and methodical exploration, with “scout” expanding into specialized roles (e.g., football scouts, police scouts) while preserving the core meaning of proactive, careful surveying.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "scouts" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "scouts" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "scouts" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "scouts"
-uts sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce it as /skaʊts/. Start with the initial /sk/ cluster, then the diphthong /aʊ/ as in ‘how,’ and finish with the voiceless /ts/. The stress sits on the first syllable: SCOUTS. For audio reference, imagine saying ‘scout’ with a voiceless /s/ at the end; in rapid speech, the /t/ can be lightly released before the /s/.
Common mistakes include turning /aʊ/ into a simple /a/ or /ɒ/ vowel (scoats), dropping the final /s/ (scout), or letting the /t/ blend into a voiceless /s/ so it sounds like /skoʊts/ or /skaʊt/. To correct: keep the /aʊ/ as a distinct diphthong, finalize with an audible /ts/ release, and avoid vowel shortening before the /t/. Practicing with minimal pairs helps reinforce the /aʊ/ + /ts/ sequence.
In US, UK, and AU, the core /skaʊts/ remains, but rhoticity affects surrounding vowels in connected speech. UK speakers may have a crisper final /ts/ and less lip rounding in /aʊ/; US speakers often have a more prominent /r/ in adjacent words but not in scouts itself. Australian pronunciation tends to have a slightly less rounded /aʊ/ and quicker tongue movement. All share the non-rhotic tendency only in linked phrases, not within the word itself.
The difficulty lies in the /aʊ/ diphthong followed by the consonant cluster /ts/. Many speakers run the diphthong into a simpler /oʊ/ or forget to release the final /t/ clearly before the final /s/. There’s also potential subtle voiceless/voiced transitions in connected speech. Practice focusing on the precise tongue height/position for /aʊ/ and ensuring a crisp /t/ release before the /s/.
Yes—pay attention to the final /ts/ cluster. In rapid speech, many speakers assimilate it into a single sibilant or drop the /t/. You should articulate a clear /t/ release before the /s/, effectively holding the /t/ briefly to separate it from the /s/. Visualize saying “sk-ow-t-s” with a small pause between the /t/ and /s/ to keep the cluster distinct.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "scouts"!
- Shadowing: Listen to a native speaker saying 'scouts' in context; imitate exactly the timing from onset to final s. - Minimal pairs: scout / scouts, scoop / scope, shout / shuts to train the /aʊ/ vs. /aʊt/ split. - Rhythm: Practice the word in phrases with two-beat rhythm, e.g., “the scouts | map out | the area.” - Stress: Maintain primary stress on SCOUTS; the rest of the sentence carries secondary stress. - Recording: Record yourself saying the word in isolation and in context; compare with a high-quality reference and adjust lip/jaw positions. - Context sentences: “The scouts spotted a trail,” “Our scouts will scout the perimeter,” “Scouts gathered data from the field.”
No related words found
