Sister Pronunciation | Pronounce.tv

sister

SIS-tur

/ˈsɪstɚ/

sister is pronounced SIS-tur (/ˈsɪstɚ/). As a noun, a female sibling, sharing one or both parents; also used for a close female friend, a member of a religious community (especially a nun), or a fellow member of an organization or group.

nounA female sibling, sharing one or both parents; also used for a close female friend, a member of a religious community (especially a nun), or a fellow member of an organization or group.

In US English, you hear /ˈsɪstər/ with a rhotic "r"—the final "er" sounds like "ər," and the first stressed vowel is a short "i" as in "sit."
In UK English, many speakers are non-rhotic, so the final "r" isn’t pronounced: /ˈsɪstə/ or /ˈsɪstəː/ in some accents, with the first vowel still a short "i." The second syllable often reduces to a schwa, sounding more like "SIS-tuh."
In Australian English, you get the rhoticity of some regional varieties mixed with a clear but less intense "r" than US. The vowels may feel lighter, with a relaxed second syllable, commonly /ˈsɪstə/ or /ˈsɪstər/ depending on the speaker.
Across all three, the key shifts are rhoticity of the final “r” and the reduction of the second syllable, plus subtle vowel height differences in US vs UK vs Australian speech.

How You Can Learn To Say "sister" Better Introduction: mastering "sister" and why it matters You’ve got a tight, precise target with /ˈsɪstər/. The word sits at the intersection of two strong vowel sounds and a light, quick -st- cluster. Getting it right unlocks natural pronunciation in everyday speech, from talking about family to greeting teammates or referencing religious or organizational kinship. This guide dives into the concrete steps, pitfalls, and practices that will elevate your articulation of sister to expert level. Common mistakes to avoid
Overemphasizing the first vowel: /ˈsɪ/ should be clear but not creaky or dragging into /ˈsiː/. Keep it short and clipped.
Damping the /t/ into a flap or a heavy release: avoid a soft “d” or an overly aspirated “t.” The t is a crisp, unaspirated stop in many dialects.
Rounding the final /ər/ too much: don’t turn it into a full vowel like “ear.” Aim for a quick, schwa-like closing: /-ər/.
Merged consonants with preceding sounds: ensure the /s/ and /t/ remain distinct, not swallowed by the preceding /s/. Accent and dialect considerations
General American: /ˈsɪstər/ with a clear /t/ and a reduced final /ər/. Stress stays on the first syllable.
British RP: /ˈsɪstə(r)/, often with a slightly stronger non-rhotic trailing sound; the final /r/ may be less pronounced in some accents.
New York / Boston influence: watch for a sharper /t/ that can sound closer to a dental stop; ensure it remains a crisp alveolar plosive.
Canadian English: similar to General American, but anticipate subtle vowel height differences before /t/. Phonetic insights and practical exercises
Vowel target: /ɪ/ as in “kit” but shorter. Practice by saying “sick” and then lift into /ɪ/ for the first vowel, keeping it sharp and quick.
Consonant timing: /s/ → /ɪ/ → /s/ → /t/ → /ər/. Practice with syllable-tasting: “si-stər” sung as two quick syllables with a crisp /t/.
Syllable-timing drill: Count out loud 10 pairs of phrases: “sister,” “this sister,” “my sister” to tune timing.
Final /ər/: Start with a simple schwa and curl the tongue for a light rhotic ending; avoid a heavy vowel or rolling r unless your dialect requires it. Practice techniques you can use daily
Minimal pair work: compare “sister” with “sister” in different accents. For example, practice with “simmer,” “sister,” and “sizzle” to tune the /st/ sequence.
Shadowing: listen to native speakers saying “sister” in context (family conversations, religious contexts, sorority talk) and imitate exactly in real time.
Tongue placement map: place the tongue tip behind the upper front teeth for the /t/ and release sharply; keep the /s/ continuous and quiet before the /ɪ/.
Recording: record yourself saying “sister” in varied sentence frames; compare with a reference pronunciation and adjust the duration of the vowel and the clarity of the stop. Resources and practice routines
Phonetics apps with IPA overlays to check /ˈsɪstər/ in real-time.
Audio dictionaries and pronunciation guides for American, British, and other dialects.
Tongue-twister sets highlighting /s/ + /t/ clusters.
Daily micro-practice: 5 minutes of focused repetition, 3 times per day, gradually increasing speed while maintaining accuracy. Daily practice plan (10 minutes) 1) 2 minutes: slow, deliberate repetition of /ˈsɪstər/ with a mirror, watching mouth shapes. 2) 3 minutes: shadow a native speaker saying “sister” in varied sentences. 3) 3 minutes: minimal pairs and contrast drills to sharpen the /s/ and /t/ distinction. 4) 2 minutes: record and compare, then adjust the final /ər/ duration and quality. By focusing on the precise vowel, a crisp /t/, and a light final /ər/, you’ll move toward expert-level pronunciation of “sister” across contexts and dialects.

sister

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