STAN-zuhz
/ˈstænzəz/
stanzas is pronounced STAN-zuhz (/ˈstænzəz/). Stanzas are grouped sets of lines in a poem, typically separated by blank lines. The term emphasizes a recurring metrical structure and rhyme scheme. In everyday usage, it also refers to divisions within a longer piece of verse, helping readers and performers navigate rhythm and meaning.
Stanzas are grouped sets of lines in a poem, typically separated by blank lines. The term emphasizes a recurring metrical structure and rhyme scheme. In everyday usage, it also refers to divisions within a longer piece of verse, helping readers and performers navigate rhythm and meaning.
"The poem has four stanzas, each exploring a different mood."
"She highlighted a stanza to show the poem’s central image."
"In performance, he paused between stanzas for dramatic effect."
Stanzas is pronounced /ˈstæn.zəz/ in US and UK English, with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with 'stan' as in stand, followed by a brief ‘zuh’ syllable and a final soft ‘z’ or 'z-iz' sound. Mouth positions: lips neutral, tongue high-front for /æ/ and then a relaxed center to emit /z/, ending with a schwa-like /ə/ before the final /z/. Audio references: Cambridge, Oxford dictionaries provide spoken pronunciations; you can also listen to native speakers on Forvo or YouGlish for context.
Common errors: 1) Reducing the second syllable to a full /ze/ or /zə/ without the schwa nuance; 2) Strongly pronouncing /z/ in the middle as /zæ/ or /zɪ/ instead of a light /zə/; 3) Stress shifting to the second syllable, producing /ˈstæn.zæs/. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable /ˈstæn/ and make the middle syllable a relaxed /zəz/; practice with minimal pairs like stan-dzas vs stanz-as, and use slow practice with repeat repetition.
US/UK share /ˈstæn.zəz/ with minor vowel quality differences: US tends to flatter /æ/ in the first syllable; UK may exhibit a slightly more open /æ/ and drier final /zəz/. Australian tends toward a clearer /æ/ and a more clipped /zəs/ realization; some speakers may reduce to /ˈstæn.zəz/ in casual speech. In all, rhoticity is not a factor here; the main variance is vowel height and the subtle centralization of the final syllable.
Difficulties include managing the short, open /æ/ in the first syllable while keeping the middle /z/ light and unstressed and avoiding merging the final /əz/ with /æ/; the cluster /nst/ after the initial vowel requires quick, precise tongue placement. Also, many speakers naturally insert a stronger /z/ in the final syllable, turning /zəz/ into /zæz/. Maintain a clean /ˈstæn/ onset, then an unstressed /zəz/ tail, and avoid vowel reduction in the first syllable.
Yes. When performing, you may want a slightly longer /æ/ in the first syllable and a perceptible but quick transition into the /zəz/ tail to distinguish the word from similar forms like ‘stanza’ or ‘stanzas’ with varying rhythm. Emphasize the initial beat to anchor the line, then lightly compress the middle to maintain smooth cadence. Practicing with tempo cues helps align the word with the poem’s meter.
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Stanza comes from the Italian stanza meaning “place, stop, stopping place, room, roomful of seats,” which in turn derives from the Greek stasis meaning “a standing, standing still.” In English, the term initially referred to a stopping place or station within poetry and music, later narrowing to a recurring metrical unit within a poem. The modern sense—an organized division of a poem, with a set number of lines and a rhyme scheme—emerged by the 16th century as poets experimented with structured verse. The word moved through Romance languages (French: strophe, Italian: strofa) before settling in English with its current meaning. First known English usage appears in printed poetry guides and early anthologies, reflecting the formalization of verse structures in the Renaissance and after. Over time, “stanza” gained a precise scholarly sense, distinguishing it from irregular verse or prose sections, while still carrying the broader sense of a “stopping place” within the poem’s architecture.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "stanzas" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "stanzas"
-zas sounds
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