SUHK-urz
/ˈsʌkɚz/
suckers is pronounced SUHK-urz (/ˈsʌkɚz/). Suckers is the plural noun or verb form referring to people or things that suck, or a chewy candy on a stick. In most uses it describes individuals who are easily duped, or simply candies known as lollipops or toffees. The term carries informal, potentially playful or derogatory connotations depending on context.
Suckers is the plural noun or verb form referring to people or things that suck, or a chewy candy on a stick. In most uses it describes individuals who are easily duped, or simply candies known as lollipops or toffees. The term carries informal, potentially playful or derogatory connotations depending on context.
"The street vendor handed out free suckers to attract customers."
"Kids smiled as they unwrapped bright red suckers after lunch."
"Don’t be a sucker—check the fine print before you sign."
Usual pronunciation is /ˈsʌ.kərz/ in US and /ˈsʌk.əz/ in many UK and AU varieties; the stress is on the first syllable: SUH-kers. Hear it as two syllables with a light schwa in the second: /ˈsʌ.kə.z/. Mouth positions: start with a low back jaw drop for /s/ and /ʌ/ (as in 'cup'), then a relaxed central vowel /ə/ for the second syllable, and finish with /z/ a buzzing voiced consonant. For most speakers, the middle vowel reduces to a near-schwa; ensure the /k/ is not released too strongly before /ə/. Audio reference: consult Forvo or pronunciation features in Cambridge/Oxford dictionaries for speaker variants.
Common errors: pronouncing as /ˈsək.ər/ without the final /z/; overemphasizing the second syllable with a full /ə/ instead of a reduced /ə/; mispronouncing /s/ as /z/ in initial position. Corrections: keep final /z/ voice with the plural, shorten the second syllable to a quick /ə/ or schwa, and ensure the initial /s/ is crisp but not aspirated excessively. Practice by saying ‘sucker’ pluralized in quick succession: suck-ers, suck-ers, keeping the /k/ release clean and the /z/ ending audible.
In US English, /ˈsʌ.kɚz/ with rhotacized /ɚ/ in the second syllable and a clear /z/ ending. UK and AU often show /ˈsʌ.kəz/ or /ˈsʌ.kɜːz/ with a more centralized or rounded vowel in the second syllable and sometimes a non-rhotic tendency reducing the /r/ in American contexts, though modern UK speech may still have rhotic influence in some accents. The main divergence lies in the middle vowel quality (ɚ vs ə) and the optional rhotic coloring; in some UK varieties, you may hear /ˈsʊ.kəs/ in rapid speech. Refer to IPA and recordings for individual speaker variation.
The difficulty centers on the shift from a stressed first syllable to a reduced, vowel-neutral second syllable and the final voiced sibilant /z/ in rapid speech. Athletes of fluent speech often elide the middle vowel or fuse syllables, making /ˈsʌ.kɚz/ sound like /ˈsʌ.kəz/ and reducing clarity of the final consonant. Additionally, dialectal differences in rhoticity and vowel length, plus the tongue position for the /ɹ/ or /ɚ/ sound, can create uncertainty. Focus on steady tongue height and controlled /z/ voicing.
The word uniquely blends a strong initial onset (s) with a mid syllable vowel that often reduces to a schwa, followed by a voiced final consonant cluster /ərz/ in many dialects. The challenge is maintaining distinct /k/ closure before the schwa and preserving the final /z/ voice in rapid speech. Also, some learners misplace the tongue for /ɹ/ or treat /ɚ/ as a pure /ə/. Practicing with minimal pairs and focused listening helps isolate the mid-vowel quality and final voicing.
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Suckers derives from the verb suck, which originates from Old English sacian or socian in various Germanic dialects, related to trying to draw in or attract. The noun form “sucker” appears in American English by the 19th century, initially meaning one who sucks or draws, with related senses of a stimulus or object that attracts. By the early 20th century, “sucker” broadened to refer to a person easily deceived or tempted, likely via a metaphor of being drawn toward something irresistible or luring, akin to a child suckling. The plural “suckers” follows standard English pluralization. The candy sense (“suckers”) also tracks to the product, a lollipop, from the 1900s onward, reinforcing the dual figurative and concrete meaning. Today, suckers spans humorous slang, consumer contexts (candy), and pejorative usage in social commentary, with subtle regional preferences in employability and tone, but the root remains the attraction/suction concept across senses.
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Words that rhyme with "suckers"
-ers sounds
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