stuhdz
/stʌdz/
studs is pronounced stuhdz (/stʌdz/). Studs refers to male decorative ornaments or fasteners, or to those who are physically attractive, often used in plural to describe multiple items. In clothing or jewelry, they are small metal studs attached to fabric, leather, or footwear. In slang, it can denote a group of men, or be used to describe a fashionable, rugged masculine style. The term spans retail, fashion, and colloquial contexts.
Studs refers to male decorative ornaments or fasteners, or to those who are physically attractive, often used in plural to describe multiple items. In clothing or jewelry, they are small metal studs attached to fabric, leather, or footwear. In slang, it can denote a group of men, or be used to describe a fashionable, rugged masculine style. The term spans retail, fashion, and colloquial contexts.
- You might replace the final /dz/ with /z/ or /d/ if you’re tired; practice insisting on a soft but audible /d/ release into /z/. - Another frequent error is throughy vowel mispronunciation of the /ʌ/ as a more neutral /ə/ or a short /ɪ/; rehearse by comparing with words like 'strut' to solidify the position. - Some learners swallow the /s/ too quickly, causing a clipped onset; ensure a crisp /st/ onset by beginning with a light /s/ and a quick /t/ release before voicing. - In connected speech, consonant assimilation may produce a stronger /t/ or a slower /d/; practice with slow, then normal tempo to align the timing of the /d/ and /z/.
"The biker jacket had silver studs along the collar."
"She wore stud earrings that matched her necklace."
"The backpack had decorative metal studs on the straps."
Pronounce as /stʌdz/. The initial consonant cluster is the s + t blend, then the vowel is the short vowel /ʌ/ as in 'strut', followed by the final voiced z /z/. Put the tongue high in the back of the mouth for /s/ and /t/, then relax to the schwa-like /ʌ/ before voicing the final /dz/ blend. Stress is on the single syllable. You can reference native audio via Pronounce or Forvo for precise mouth shapes.
Common errors include: mispronouncing the final /dz/ as a hard /d/ or /z/ only (saying /studz/ or /studz/ with vowel devoicing); dropping the /d/ in the /dz/ cluster (saying /studz/); or confusing vowel quality, lengthening the /ʌ/ to /ə/. To correct: ensure a light, voiced /d/ onset before the /z/, keep /ʌ/ short but clear, and release into a crisp /dz/ with simultaneous voicing from the tongue apex. Practice by saying ‘studs’ in isolation, then in phrases.
In US and UK accents, the /st/ onset and /dz/ coda remain; the main difference lies in Vowel quality: US /ʌ/ as in 'strut' is more centralized, while RP tends toward a slightly higher or more centralized /ʌ/ with possible /ɜː/ coloration in some speakers; rhotics vary: US is rhotic, UK typically non-rhotic, affecting surrounding vowels. Australian speakers typically merge some front vowels and maintain /ʌ/ with less vowel reduction. Overall, the consonants stay stable, but the vowel can shift subtly by accent.
The difficulty centers on the final /dz/ cluster, which combines a voiced alveolar stop /d/ with a voiced fricative /z/. Many speakers either pronounce it as /d/ or /z/ separately or oversimplify it. Also, the short /ʌ/ vowel can be mispronounced in crowded speech, and the /s/ preceding /t/ can blur into an /st/ sequence if the tongue tip position isn’t precise. Accurate articulation requires a quick, controlled release into /dz/ with steady voicing.
Yes. The word contains a final voiced alveolar affricate /dz/, which is less common at the end of English words and can be challenging for non-native speakers. Achieving a clean /dz/ requires a rapid transition from /d/ to /z/ with a single, crisp release rather than two separate sounds. Emphasizing the final affricate while keeping the preceding /t/ crisp ensures natural-sounding pronunciation.
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- US: rhotic, vowels tend to be more relaxed; maintain /ɹ/ influence before vowels, if present; ensure final /z/ is voiced clearly. - UK: non-rhotic, vowel quality of /ʌ/ can be more centralized; keep tongue blade closer to palate during /s/ and /t/ onset. - AU: vowel mergers can affect /ʌ/ and /ɪ/; keep /dz/ crisp as in General Australian. Use IPA transcriptions to compare; note that 'studs' can sound flatter in some Australian speech due to vowel reductions. - General tips: use precise tongue position for /s/ and /t/, watch voicing onset for /d/ and /z/, and practice with minimal pairs to distinguish /st/ with /sd/ patterns across accents.
The word studs originates from the Old English stede or stud, from Proto-Germanic stutōn, meaning a stake or post; in later Middle English it came to mean a projecting point or ornament. The sense shift toward decorative metal projections used in clothing and leatherwork arose in the late medieval to early modern period, reflecting the growing use of metal fasteners and ornaments in garments. By the 18th and 19th centuries, “stud” could refer to a male presenting as attractive or virile in slang, and pluralization “studs” extended to multiple such individuals or decorative items. In fashion and jewelry, studs refer to small raised decorative points or protruding metal pieces attached to fabric, leather, or ear jewelry, with the sense stabilized in retail and costume contexts by the 20th century and continuing into contemporary usage across fashion, footwear, and accessory design.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "studs" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "studs" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "studs"
-uds sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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