Sequins are small, shiny disk-shaped decorations sewn onto fabrics to add sparkle and texture. They are commonly used on clothing, accessories, and costumes for festive or decorative effects. The term also extends to the individual discs themselves, which catch light from multiple angles.
US: more rhotic, subtle vowel length differences; UK: slightly crisper consonants, more clipped vowels; AU: often a flatter intonation with a relaxed /ɪ/ sound. Vowel quality around /ɪ/ tends to be a near-close near-front vowel in most speakers; the /kw/ cluster requires rapid jaw and tongue movement. IPA references: US / səˈkwɪnz /, UK / sɪˈkwɪnz /, AU / sɪˈkwɪnz /. Practice with short phrases to embed the rhythm: 'sequins shimmer', 'sequin-adorned sleeve'.
"Her gown glittered in sequins under the ballroom lights."
"She added a row of sequins along the hem to make the dress pop."
"The dancer's sequin-covered bodice sparkled with every move."
"They stitched tiny sequins onto the scarf for a subtle, festive shine."
Sequins derive from the Scottish Gaelic term seudean, meaning 'little scales' or ‘fish scales,’ which reflected the glimmering plates used in fabric decoration. The modern spelling sequins comes via French sequin, ultimately from Italian squinio or squino, terms used for small, flat, shiny disks. The earliest decorative sequins were metallic disks sewn onto garments in ancient times, with evidence in Roman and later medieval textiles as cheap, reflective adornments. By the 17th century, sequins were mass-produced in Europe as coin-sized metal discs and stitched onto clothing to imitate precious metal embroidery. The 19th and 20th centuries saw a shift from metallic disks to plastic and acrylic counterparts, expanding color, shape, and affordability. Today, sequins are ubiquitous in fashion, theater costumes, and crafts, valued for their light-catching properties, durability, and versatility in embellishment.
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Words that rhyme with "Sequins"
-ens sounds
-ans sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Sequins is pronounced sɪˈkwɪnz in US and UK dictionaries, with the second syllable stressed: si-KWINS. The initial vowel is a short 'i' (as in sit), and the final 'nz' ends with a voiced 'z' plus nasal. Think 'sin' with a quick 'kw' blend before the 'ins' ending. Listen for the contrast between the 'kw' cluster and the trailing 'nz'; the 'u' in the stressed syllable isn’t a full 'you' sound, but a light 'u' as in 'kit.'
Common errors include misplacing the stress as on the first syllable (sɪˈkwɪnz vs ˈsiːkwɪnz), pronouncing the second syllable as 'queen' or 'quince' (kwɪnz vs kwin), and overemphasizing the 's' at end making an extra sibilant or adding an extra vowel. Correct it by keeping the second syllable strong: si-KWINS, with a short, quick 'i' and a crisp end 'nz' rather than a drawn-out vowel.
In US and UK, sequins shares the same /səˈkwɪnz/ vs /sɪˈkwɪnz/ pattern, with the main difference being the initial unstressed vowel quality in some speakers. US tends toward a lighter schwa in unstressed positions, UK can sound with a slightly clipped rhythm, and Australian accents may reduce vowels a touch differently (closer to /sɪˈkwɪnz/). Stress remains on the second syllable in most varieties.
The challenge lies in the /kw/ consonant cluster immediately after a short vowel, followed by the final /nz/ cluster. The transition from a lax vowel to a closing nasal with a voiced sibilant requires precise tongue blade position and airflow control. Beginners often insert an extra vowel or misplace the stress; focus on a tight, fast transition from /ɪ/ to /kw/ and then to /nz/.
Yes. The 's' at the end is not silent; it indicates the plural form, but in careful speech you maintain a light, voiced /z/ ending after the /nz/ sequence. This means you close the syllable with a brief /z/ rather than a plain /n/. Ensure the /n/ and /z/ are tightly bound, so the ending sounds like /nz/ rather than /nz/ or /ns/.
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