STOO-duhnts
/ˈstudənts/
students is pronounced STOO-duhnts (/ˈstudənts/). Students denotes people who are enrolled in an educational program or course. The term can also refer more generally to learners or pupils. In everyday use, it often appears as a collective noun referring to a group of learners, sometimes carrying a casual or context-specific tone depending on setting and emphasis.
Students denotes people who are enrolled in an educational program or course. The term can also refer more generally to learners or pupils. In everyday use, it often appears as a collective noun referring to a group of learners, sometimes carrying a casual or context-specific tone depending on setting and emphasis.
"The students gathered after class to discuss the group project."
"She mentors students who are new to the university."
"During labor negotiations, students’ concerns about tuition often come up."
You pronounce it as ˈstjuː.dənts (British) or ˈstuː.dənts (American with typical /juː/ or /uː/ realization before /d/). The primary stress is on the first syllable. Think:-STUDENTS, with a light, quick second syllable. In careful speech, you articulate /stjuː/ or /stuː/ as a single syllable before /dənts/. If you’re using the US form, you may hear a reduced /ə/ in the second syllable depending on pace. Audio references like Cambridge or Oxford pronunciation pages can help you hear the nuance.
Common errors: 1) Slurring the initial /st/ into /s/ or dropping the /j/ sound in /stjuː/ leading to 'stoodents' or 'stoo-dents.' 2) Mixing /ə/ with /ɜː/ in the second syllable (saying /ˈstjuː.dɜːnts/). 3) Weakening the final /ts/ to a simple /z/ or /s/ sound. Correction: keep the /t/ and /s/ distinct, release the /t/ into a crisp /d/ or /t/ followed by a clear /nts/ cluster. Practice with minimal pairs to reinforce the /d/ + /nts/ sequence.
US often uses /ˈstuːdən(ts)/ or /ˈstjuː.dənts/ with a stronger rhotic influence on following vowels, though /r/ is not present in this word. UK tends to /ˈstjuː.dənts/ with a clear /juː/ before /d/. Australian typically features a similar /ˈstuː.dənts/ with a slightly more centralized vowel in some speakers and weaker rhoticity in surrounding words. The big difference is vowel length and the realization of the /ə/ vs /ɪ/ in the second syllable; American English often has a slightly longer /ə/ reduced vowel in connected speech.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /st/ at the start followed by a palatal glide /j/ in /stjuː/ and the final syllable /dənts/ with a rapid /nts/ cluster. Non-native speakers may reduce the /j/ or merge /d/ and /t/. Mastery requires precise tongue position to prevent /j/ from becoming a vowel, and maintaining the /nts/ cluster without epenthesis. Focus on keeping the /t/ firmly released into /ts/ and smoothing the /d/ to avoid a weak /dənts/.
No. The /j/ is a palatal approximant that forms part of the /stjuː/ onset, but it does not create a separate syllable; the word is still two syllables: /ˈstjuː.dənts/ in many accents or /ˈstuː.dɛnts/ in some speakers. In rapid speech, the /j/ can be lighter, approaching a glide, and some speakers may merge /stj/ toward /stu/ or /stɪu/ depending on dialect. The important point is to keep the glide with the primary stressed syllable without breaking it into a separate vowel segment.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "students"!
The word students comes from the Latin studēns, present participle of studēre, meaning to Study or to be diligent. In Late Latin, studēns described someone who is studying or engaged in learning, a semantic thread that flows into Old French estudiant and Middle English studie, then student. By the 14th century, English used studentes or students to denote a person who studies; the modern plural form students appears as English spelling standardization matured in Early Modern English. The root stud- is tied to inquiry, zeal for knowledge, and endeavoring toward mastery. Over time, the word broadened from a person currently studying to include members of a school, college, or university, and later, to refer to students in various fields or programs, even non-traditional learners. The evolution reflects educational expansion, institutional structures, and the broadening of the concept of learning beyond formal classrooms. First known use in English literature traces to the 14th-15th centuries, with the sense gradually aligning to today’s general usage. Throughout, it preserves a core association with active study and pursuit of knowledge.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "students" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "students" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "students" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "students"
-ten sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
