SOY-beenz
/ˈsɔɪˌbinz/
soybeans is pronounced SOY-beenz (/ˈsɔɪˌbinz/). Soybeans are a type of legume widely cultivated for their edible seeds and oil. In everyday usage, the term often refers to the seeds themselves or the crop as a whole, and can appear in both agricultural and nutritional contexts. The plural form simply denotes more than one bean. The word combines the plant name with the plural noun suffix -beans, indicating multiple seeds from the soybean plant.
Soybeans are a type of legume widely cultivated for their edible seeds and oil. In everyday usage, the term often refers to the seeds themselves or the crop as a whole, and can appear in both agricultural and nutritional contexts. The plural form simply denotes more than one bean. The word combines the plant name with the plural noun suffix -beans, indicating multiple seeds from the soybean plant.
"Farmers harvest soybeans in the fall as a key agricultural crop."
"We use soybeans to produce soy milk, tofu, and many processed foods."
"The nutrition label lists soybeans as a source of plant-based protein."
Pronounce as /ˈsɔɪˌbiːnz/. Stress falls on the first syllable: SOY-. The second syllable is /biːnz/ with a long E and a voiced z ending. In careful speech, you’ll hear a clear /ˈsɔɪ/ onset followed by /biːnz/. Think “soy” + “beans” with an audible z-sound at the end. If you’re familiar with “soy” as in the drink, you’ll just add the final /nz/ cluster: /ˈsɔɪ.biːnz/.”
Common mistakes: 1) Misplacing stress, saying SOY-beans with weak secondary stress; 2) pronouncing /ɔɪ/ as /oʊ/ or a monophthong; 3) dropping the final /nz/ or turning it into /z/ or /s/; 4) blending syllables so it sounds like ‘soybinz’ or ‘soybines.’ Correction: maintain primary stress on SOY, keep the /ɔɪ/ diphthong intact, ensure the /b/ is clearly released then produce /iː/ followed by the voiced /nz/ cluster. Practice with slow repetition: /ˈsɔɪ.biːnz/.”
In US English the /ɔɪ/ diphthong in SOY is robust and the final /nz/ is clearly voiced. UK often mirrors US with rhotics less pronounced in non-rhotic varieties, but /ˈsɔɪ.biːnz/ remains. Australian accents keep a similar diphthong and finalize with a clear /nz/; vowel quality may be slightly tighter and the /ɜː/ or /ə/ reductions less common. Overall, differences are subtler than vowels shift in other words; focus remains on the two-syllable rhythm and the final nasal + z. IPA: US/UK/AU /ˈsɔɪ.biːnz/.
The difficulty centers on the two-syllable rhythm and the final /nz/ cluster. The diphthong /ɔɪ/ in SOY can be challenging for speakers who prefer monophthongs; sustaining the long /iː/ before /nz/ requires precise timing and voicing. Beginners often mispronounce as /ˈsaɪ-bɛnz/ or drop the /n/, producing /ˈsɔɪbeɪz/. Emphasize keeping the syllable break clear and pronouncing /nz/ as a single nasal+voiced alveolar fricative sequence. IPA: /ˈsɔɪˌbiːnz/.
A unique feature is the two-syllable sequence with a strong initial diphthong and a final voiced nasal + z cluster. You’ll benefit from isolating the transition between /ˈsɔɪ/ and /biːnz/. Place the tongue high in the front of your mouth for /ɔɪ/ and relax your jaw for /biːnz/, ensuring the /n/ is audible before the /z/. Engaging in minimal pairs like soy/soybeans or soy/soya can help you hear the boundary and final sound clearly.
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Soybeans derives from the soybean plant, Glycine max. The term soy comes from Japanese: shoyu (soy sauce) and other related words, but the plant name in English clearly identifies its edible seeds. The plant was introduced to global agriculture in the 18th–19th centuries as a protein-rich crop and oil source. The word soybean appears in English in the 19th century, with -bean as a productive suffix denoting multiple beans or seeds from a legume. The global prominence of soybeans surged in the 20th century with the rise of soy-derived products and industrial uses, cementing the term in both agricultural and consumer contexts. Over time, the phrase “soybeans” came to cover both the seeds and the crop, including processed products like soy milk and tofu where the seeds are the base ingredient. The spelling reflects the two-part construction (soy + beans), aligning with other plant-based plural nouns such as “kidneys” or “peanuts,” even though the bean itself is technically the seed of Glycine max. First known use in print traces to agricultural catalogs and botanical texts in the late 1800s, with widespread adoption in farming communities by the early 1900s. In contemporary usage, “soybeans” is a stable, standard term in nutrition, agriculture, and food industries worldwide.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "soybeans" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "soybeans"
-ans sounds
-ens sounds
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