STAHR-turz
/ˈstɑɹtɚz/
starters is pronounced STAHR-turz (/ˈstɑɹtɚz/). Starters refers to people or things that initiate an action or process, such as the first course in a meal or devices/teams that begin a project. In many contexts it also describes individuals who begin something new, often in sports or competition, or items that precede the main course or event. The term emphasizes beginning, initiation, or kickoff roles rather than the ongoing activity itself.
Starters refers to people or things that initiate an action or process, such as the first course in a meal or devices/teams that begin a project. In many contexts it also describes individuals who begin something new, often in sports or competition, or items that precede the main course or event. The term emphasizes beginning, initiation, or kickoff roles rather than the ongoing activity itself.
- You may replace the long /ɑː/ in the first syllable with a shorter /æ/ or /a/ sound, especially in American varieties; this flattens the word’s opening and shifts its meaning slightly. Remedy: practice with a prolonged /ɑː/ and ensure a crisp onset on /st/. - The second syllable can collapse into a strong /ər/ or a full /ərz/ instead of a reduced /ə/. Focus on a quick, light /ər/ and then a clear /z/. - Final /z/ can be devoiced in rapid speech; make sure your vocal folds vibrate for /z/ and that the preceding vowel isn’t shortened inadvertently.
"The team released its starters for the game, choosing a fast, aggressive lineup."
"She handed out the starters with coffee and pastries to welcome the workshop participants."
"The interview asked for the starters of the project and who would lead each phase."
Stars- are with the primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈstɑː.tərz/ in US and UK; in careful speech you may hear /ˈstɑː.təz/ in some UK and AU varieties when the final z is lenited. Start with an open back low vowel in /stɑː/ followed by a mid central /ər/ or /ər/ depending on accent, then /z/ at the end. Mouth positions: lips neutral to slightly rounded for /ɑː/, tongue low and retracted; for /t/ place the tongue blade against the alveolar ridge; for the final /z/ keep the vocal folds vibrating with a light continuant release.
Common mistakes include flattening the first syllable vowel as /æ/ (like 'star' in American) instead of the longer /ɑː/ in many dialects, and vocalizing the final /r/ as fully rhotic in non-rhotic varieties. Another error is over-pronouncing the second syllable as /-ərz/ with a heavy /ə/ instead of a quick reduced /ər/ before the /z/. To correct: maintain the long /ɑː/ in the first syllable, keep a light, quick /ər/ in the second, and release into a clean /z/ without extra syllabic vowels.
In US English, /ˈstɑː.tɚz/ with rhotic /ɹ/; in many UK varieties, /ˈstɑː.təz/ or /ˈstɑː.təz/ with non-rhotic behavior on the second syllable and a reduced vowel; in Australian English, /ˈstɑː.təz/ with a centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and a non-rhotic tendency. Pay attention to rhotics: US maintains /ɹ/ in coda; UK often drops postvocalic /r/ except in linking; AU tends toward non-rhotic but with vowel quality closer to US in some regions.
The challenge lies in transitioning from a stressed open-back vowel /ɑː/ to a schwa-like /ə/ in the second syllable while maintaining a clear final /z/. The alveolar /t/ is followed by a quick, nearly silent transition to /ər/; maintaining syllable timing so the first syllable is long while the second remains lighter requires precise tongue tension and breath control. Coordination of voicing and aspiration on /t/ and the voiced /z/ at the end can also trip speakers.
A unique aspect is the articulation of the /st/ onset before a stressed /ɑː/ vowel; ensure you don’t reduce /stɑː/ into /stɑ/ or /staː/ by rushing. The final plural /z/ must be voiced and clear even in connected speech; avoid a clipped /s/ or a devoiced /z/. Practically, you can drill with phrases like “starters for success” to anchor the rhythm of /ˈstɑː.tərz/ in natural sentence stress.
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- US: rhotic /ɹ/ present; the second syllable often reduced to /ər/ with a clear final /z/. Imagine a tiny, relaxed mid-central vowel before /z/. - UK: often non-rhotic; the second syllable becomes /tə/ or /tə̞s/ with a more centralized vowel; the final /z/ remains voiced but may be shorter in fast speech. - AU: non-rhotic tendencies; second syllable may lean toward /əz/ or /əz/ with slight schwa; keep the final /z/ voiced and clean. Reference IPA transcriptions to guide mouth positions: US /ˈstɑːˌɹəz/; UK /ˈstɑː.təz/; AU /ˈstɑː.təz/ if non-rhotic. - Tip: emphasize first syllable without overstressing the second, and maintain a steady tempo between syllables.
Starters derives from the noun starter, meaning something that starts or initiates, itself from Old English sterian ‘to trouble, stir up’ (related to stir) and Proto-Germanic *start- “to begin, commence.” The sense of “one who starts” evolved in Middle English to refer to a device or person that begins a course of action, as in “food starter” or “starter course” in a meal. Victorian and later culinary usage popularized the term in the context of appetizers, with “starters” used in Britain and Commonwealth nations to denote the first courses. In contemporary usage, the plural form starers may appear in team contexts (starters in a lineup) and product or process contexts (starter kits, starter devices). First known uses appear in culinary writing from the 18th–19th centuries, growing in popularity alongside the rise of formal dining where menus explicitly separated “starters” (beginnings) from the main course. Over time, metaphorical uses broadened to denote anything that begins or initiates, including software scripts, program starters, and onboarding starters in teams. Overall, the word retains its core meaning of initiation and beginning, with domain-specific applications in dining, sports, and project work.
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Words that rhyme with "starters"
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