2 syllables: Shek, els. Stress on Shek.
SHEK-uhlz
/ˈʃɛkəlz/
Shekels is pronounced SHEK-uhlz (/ˈʃɛkəlz/). It has two syllables (Shek-els), with the stress on "Shek". Shekels is a plural noun referring to the former Hebrew unit of currency, now often used to denote Jewish currency units or money in general. It denotes monetary value and, in modern usage, frequently appears in discussions of Israeli finance, biblical contexts, or colloquial speech about money. The term carries cultural and historical resonance beyond its numeric meaning.
nounShekels is a plural noun referring to the former Hebrew unit of currency, now often used to denote Jewish currency units or money in general. It denotes monetary value and, in modern usage, frequently appears in discussions of Israeli finance, biblical contexts, or colloquial speech about money. The term carries cultural and historical resonance beyond its numeric meaning.
- You may default to a long /i:/ sound in the middle vowel (as in 'sheekels'); instead keep /ɛ/ as in 'bet' for the second syllable. - The /l/ can be swallowed or slurred into the /z/; practice isolating /l/ before the final /z/. - The final consonant may be devoiced to /s/ or omitted; keep the final /z/ by voicing it with the vocal cords and a crisp release. - In rapid speech, the first syllable might merge with the second; practice pausing slightly between syllables to keep the rhythm clear.
How to Pronounce Shekels
"- The shekels he saved for the trip covered most of his expenses."
"- Ancient coins were once minted in shekels and weighed with care."
"- Shekels are often discussed in studies of ancient economies."
US/UK/AU speakers share the same phonetic sequence in careful speech: /ˈʃɛ.kɛlz/. In US and UK, the first syllable lands on a clear short e as in 'bet', followed by a crisp k sound and the final z. The word stresses the first syllable. When you say it, start with the 'sh' as in 'she', move to the short 'e' in the first syllable, then a hard 'k' and soft 'elz' ending. Audio reference: listen to native speakers saying 'shekels' in context or pronunciation platforms for a frame of reference.
Common errors include pronouncing the middle vowel as a long 'ee' (/iː/) instead of /ɛ/ and softening the final /z/ into /s/ or voicing the final consonant too weakly. To correct: keep the first syllable with /ˈʃɛ/ as in 'bet', ensure the /k/ is a clear stop followed by /əlz/ with a voiced /z/. Practice by saying 'sh' + 'e' in short, clipped bursts before closing with a crisp /z/.
In US and UK, /ˈʃɛ.kɛlz/ with a clear /ɛ/ in both syllables is common, rhoticity does not dramatically affect this word. In some UK varieties, the second vowel may be slightly rounded and the final /z/ retained, occasionally producing a lighter /z/ or a gently voiceless /s/ due to final cluster voicing. In Australian speech, you might notice a slightly shorter final vowel and a tensed delivery on the first syllable, but the overall /ˈʃɛ.kɛlz/ structure remains stable.
The difficulty lies in the rapid sequence /ʃ/ + /ɛ/ + /k/ + /əl/ + /z/, especially ensuring the /k/ is a hard stop and avoiding vowel reduction in the middle syllable in fast speech. Practicing slow, precise articulations helps; then gradually speed up to natural tempo while keeping all segments audible. Focus on keeping the /l/ light and preventing the /ʃ/ from blending with nearby vowels.
No, there are no silent letters in Shekels. Every letter contributes to the /ˈʃɛ.kɛlz/ sequence: the 'sh' digraph, the 'e' in the first syllable, the 'k' stop, the 'e' in the second syllable, and the final 'ls' voiced cluster. Treat each consonant clearly in fast speech to avoid dropping the /l/ or muting the /z/.
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- US: maintain rhoticity and keep the first vowel crisp /ɛ/. The second vowel should be as a clipped /ɛ/; the final /z/ should be voiced and slightly elongated. - UK: may exhibit a non-rhotic decay, but Shekels typically remains with a full vowel in both syllables; emphasize a clear /k/ and /l/ sequence. - AU: a bit more relaxed jaw and lip tension; ensure you pronounce /ʃ/ and /k/ distinctly while keeping the /l/ audible. Use IPA references to guide your mouth positions and maintain clarity across variations.
The word shekel derives from the Hebrew word sheqel, meaning a unit of weight used in ancient times, notably for weighing silver or unspecified goods. Historically, several Near Eastern systems used shekels as both a unit of weight and a coin value. In Biblical Hebrew, the term appeared in contexts describing weights and monetary transactions. The modern English usage primarily reflects the historical currency of Israel, where the plural form shekels is used to refer to the old coin unit in pluralized form, and also colloquially to quantities of money in general. The transition from weight-based measures to currency occurred in antiquity, but the specific coinage and denominations varied by era and region. First appearance in English literature as a transliteration of Hebrew terms likely occurred during translations of Biblical texts and later scholarly works on ancient economies. Today, the name persists in historical discussions and in contemporary contexts to denote costs in Israel, often contrasted with newer currency units like the sheqel as a monetary unit of account.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Shekels" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Shekels"
-les sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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