SUHM-uhnz
/ˈsʌmənz/
summons is pronounced SUHM-uhnz (/ˈsʌmənz/). Summons refers to an official notice or command, typically issued to compel someone to appear in court or to answer a legal matter. It can also mean the act of summoning someone or something, bringing them to attention or call. The term is often used in legal contexts and formal communications, signaling an authoritative request or obligation.
Summons refers to an official notice or command, typically issued to compel someone to appear in court or to answer a legal matter. It can also mean the act of summoning someone or something, bringing them to attention or call. The term is often used in legal contexts and formal communications, signaling an authoritative request or obligation.
"The defendant received a summons to appear in court next month."
"Police issued a summons for the suspect to report to the station."
"A civil summons requires you to respond within a designated period."
Sum-ɒnz in most accents, with the first syllable stressed: /ˈsʌm.ənz/. The vowel in the first syllable is the short /ʌ/ as in 'strut', the second syllable uses a schwa /ə/ when unstressed, and the final /z/ is a voiced z-sound. In rapid speech you may hear a light, quick final consonant; emphasize the first syllable to avoid blending sounds. IPA: US/UK: /ˈsʌm.ənz/. Mouth: start with a relaxed jaw, open the lips slightly, tongue mid-high for /ʌ/, then relax to a mid-central /ə/, finish with a clear voiced /z/.
Common mistakes: 1) Pronouncing the second syllable as a full /oʊ/ or /ɔː/ instead of a neutral /ə/. 2) Misplacing stress on the second syllable or blending /m/ and /ən/ into /mun/ or /mən/ too tightly. 3) Voicing the final s as /s/ instead of /z/ in connected speech. Corrections: keep the second syllable as a reduced /ə/ and maintain a clean /z/ at the end; practice with minimal pairs like SUMS vs SUMMONS to feel the unstressed second syllable; exaggerate the first syllable lightly when starting to train attention.
US/UK forms share /ˈsʌm.ənz/ with rhoticity not affecting the final /z/. UK may sound marginally more clipped: /ˈsʌm.ənz/ with slightly shorter /ʌ/ and a crisper /z/. Australian tends to be similar but with a subtly more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable depending on speaker; final z remains voiced. Overall: stress on first syllable; the main vowel is /ʌ/ in all, second syllable reduced to /ə/; endings retain /z/. IPA references: US/UK /ˈsʌm.ənz/, AU /ˈsʌ.mənz/ (varying by speaker).
Difficulties stem from the combination of a stressed first syllable with a reduced second syllable that includes a neutral /ə/ vowel, which can be unfamiliar for learners who expect full vowels in each syllable. The /m/ sequence followed by /ən/ requires precise lip closure and a quick relaxation of the jaw. The final /z/ can blend with following words, especially in fast speech, risking a /s/ sound or de-voicing. Focus on a clean /ˈsʌm.ənz/ sequence and crisp final /z/.
No silent letters in standard pronunciations. All letters contribute to the pronunciation: s-u-m-m-o-n-s yields /ˈsʌm.ənz/. The second 'm' often participates in a quick, compressed sequence with the following -on- syllable; the /n/ keeps a distinct nasal onset before the final /z/. Being mindful of the schwa in the second syllable helps avoid the trap of assuming a silent vowel in English spellings.
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Summons comes from the verb summon, which traces to the Old French soumoun, then Old French summoner, from Latin summonare (to call to, invite), combining sub- (under) with a root meaning call or name. In Middle English, summons appeared as sumµons or sumouns, reflecting a period of lexical borrowing and Norman influence when legal and administrative terminology heavily absorbed French. The modern form consolidated in the early modern period as courts standardized legal language. The root sense remains tied to calling someone forth or invoking attention, but the legal domain narrowed usage to formal calls to appear or respond. First known uses appear in medieval charter and court records, where royal or ecclesiastical authorities commanded attendance. Over centuries, the sense expanded to include civil and administrative notices, maintaining the central idea of authoritative insistence and summons as an official summons-to-appear rather than a casual invitation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "summons" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "summons"
-ess sounds
-me) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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