2 syllables: So, yuz. Stress on So.
SOY-uhz
/ˈsɔɪəz/
Soyuz is pronounced SOY-uhz (/ˈsɔɪəz/). It has two syllables (So-yuz), with the stress on "So". Soyuz is a proper noun referring to the Russian spaceflight brand and its crewed spaceflight program. It denotes a family of spacecraft and the associated launch system, and is used to name missions from orbital flights to crewed launches. The term has broad usage in spaceflight discussions, news, and historical contexts related to Soviet and Russian space exploration.
nounSoyuz is a proper noun referring to the Russian spaceflight brand and its crewed spaceflight program. It denotes a family of spacecraft and the associated launch system, and is used to name missions from orbital flights to crewed launches. The term has broad usage in spaceflight discussions, news, and historical contexts related to Soviet and Russian space exploration.
"The Soyuz program has transported astronauts to the ISS since the 1990s."
"She studied the Soyuz missions to understand mid-20th-century spaceflight engineering."
"A Soyuz capsule landed safely after its mission, marking another milestone in space logistics."
Pronounce it as SOY-yooz, with two syllables. IPA: US/UK/AU ≈ /ˈsoʊ.juːz/ (US), /ˈsɔɪ.juːz/ (UK/AU). The first syllable carries primary stress. Start with an open-mid back vowel in the first syllable, then glide into a close back rounded vowel with a yod-like [j] onset before the final z. Keep the lips rounded transitioning from /oʊ/ or /ɔɪ/ to /juː/; avoid a hard ‘s’ at the end. Practicing with a slight, quick yod makes it natural.”,
Common errors: (1) Treating it as 'SOO-us' with a long /uː/; correct to /juː/ after the /j/ onset. (2) Misplacing stress as on the second syllable; keep primary stress on the first: /ˈsoʊ.juːz/. (3) Dropping the yod before the second syllable, saying /soʊuz/; include the /j/ glide: /ˈsoʊ.juːz/. Awareness of the /j/ onset matters; practice by isolating the glide: ‘so’ + ‘yooz’.”,
In US: /ˈsoʊ.juːz/ with a rounded /oʊ/ and /juː/; rhotic influence is low. In UK: /ˈsɔɪ.juːz/ with a diphthong in the first syllable and non-rhotic tendency; AU aligns closely with UK but with slight Australian vowel quality shifts like broader /ɔɪ/ vs. /ɔɪ/. Across accents, the crucial differences are the first syllable vowel (oʊ vs ɔɪ) and the presence of a strong /j/ consonant onset for the second syllable. Ensure the final /z/ is a clear voiced alveolar fricative rather than a softened /s/.”,
Key challenges: the two-syllable structure with a subtle yod in the second syllable; the first syllable’s vowel varies between /oʊ/ and /ɔɪ/ depending on influence; the final /z/ can be devoiced in fast speech or influenced by surrounding sounds; the /j/ onset between syllables requires precise tongue positioning and lip rounding. Practicing the glide from the first to the second syllable helps stabilize the rhythm and keeps the pronunciation natural in fast speech.
A unique point is the subtle but essential /j/ glide linking the two syllables; many learners drop the /j/ leading to /ˈsoʊuz/ which sounds clipped. The correct form /ˈsoʊ.juːz/ requires the tongue to rise toward the hard palate for the /j/ and then slide into a lengthened /uː/ for the final syllable. Keeping the glide intact preserves the native rhythm and avoids a flattened ending.”,
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The word Soyuz originates from Russian and means ‘union, alliance, or union of forces.’ It is derived from the Russian noun soyuz (союз), from the Proto-Slavic *sǫujъ meaning ‘bond, yoke, join’ and related to the concept of “joining together” or “assembly.” The term was adopted in the 20th century to symbolize collaboration and collective effort, a thematic fit for a nation-building and ambitious engineering program. In spaceflight, the Soyuz designation was chosen to emphasize unity of crew and objectives in Soviet and later Russian missions. The first use of the Soyuz designation in spaceflight occurred in the early 1960s as part of the Soiuz program’s early manned spacecraft designs, evolving from earlier engineering projects and Soviet spaceflight nomenclature. Over time, Soyuz became a globally recognized brand in human spaceflight, especially after the Soyuz spacecraft became a reliable workhorse for crewed missions to low Earth orbit and the International Space Station, while the word also appears in international media, scientific literature, and space history discussions. The cultural and technical symbolism of “Soyuz”—teamwork, reliability, and endurance—continues to color its pronunciation and recognition worldwide.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Soyuz" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Soyuz"
-oys sounds
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