suhnz
/sʌnz/
suns is pronounced suhnz (/sʌnz/). Suns is the plural form of sun, referring to multiple sun-like stars, or more commonly, to the sun in a poetic or rhetorical context. It is pronounced with a short, closed vowel followed by a final /z/ sound, producing a crisp plural ending. The word is concise, frequent in everyday speech, and its meaning shifts with context (astronomical vs. metaphorical).
Suns is the plural form of sun, referring to multiple sun-like stars, or more commonly, to the sun in a poetic or rhetorical context. It is pronounced with a short, closed vowel followed by a final /z/ sound, producing a crisp plural ending. The word is concise, frequent in everyday speech, and its meaning shifts with context (astronomical vs. metaphorical).
- You might say the vowel incorrectly as /ɜ/ or /ɒ/, turning suns into 'sorns' or 'suns' with misvoicing. Use a relaxed jaw and keep the jaw slightly open to achieve /ʌ/. - It’s easy to drop the final /z/ in casual speech or blend into /s/; practice holding the voiced /z/ for a beat, then release. - In fast speech, avoid letting the /n/ merge too much with /z/; you want a distinct /nz/ cluster. Practice by linking 'sun' and 's' with a tiny pause to maintain voicing.
"The ancient temple faced the three suns on the horizon."
"She wore sun-shaped charms around her neck and a sunny smile."
"From the hill, we counted the suns peeking through the clouds after dawn."
You pronounce suns as /sʌnz/. The initial sound is the short /ʌ/ as in 'strut', followed by /n/. The final /z/ is clear and voiced, not a /s/. The plural /z/ makes it sound like 'suns' rather than 'sons' in many accents. IPA: /sʌnz/. Mouth: keep your jaw relaxed, tongue mid-low, tip against alveolar ridge for /s/ and /z/; avoid turning into a /s/ plus /z/ blend.
Common mistakes include confusing /s/ with /z/ initially, or flattening the vowel to a lax /ɪ/ as in 'sun' vs 'suns'. Another error is devoicing the final /z/ to /s/ in fast speech. Correction: ensure the vowel is /ʌ/ (as in 'sun'), then vocalize a clear, voiced /z/—mouth relaxed, voice box engaged. Practice with minimal pairs: suns vs son, suns vs suns' (possessive form). Remember the final /z/ should be audible and not voiceless.
In US/UK/AU, the initial /s/ and /ʌ/ are consistent, and the final /nz/ cluster is typically voiced. US varieties often have a pronounced rhoticity not affecting this word. UK/AU maintain the same /s/ starting consonant and /ʌ/ vowel, with subtle differences in vowel length and intonation; AU can be slightly broader with a lighter /ə/ in rapid speech, but /ʌ/ remains recognizable. All maintain a clear /z/ ending, though non-rhotic tendencies in some UK dialects may slightly affect preceding vowel length.
The challenge lies in producing a clean, voiced final /z/ after a short /ʌ/ vowel, especially in rapid speech where the vowel can reduce and the /n/ can blur with the /z/. Learners often replace /z/ with /s/ or mispronounce the /ʌ/ as /ə/. Achieve accuracy by holding the /ʌ/ briefly, voicing through the /n/ into the /z/, and practicing with word pairs that contrast voicing (suns) vs voiceless endings.
Is the final 's' in suns always pronounced as /z/? Yes, in standard American, British, and Australian English the final 's' in suns is voiced /z/ when the word is plural. The only exception is derived possessives or certain emphatic pronunciations where the /z/ can be lightly aspirated or elided in rapid speech.
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- US: /sʌnz/ with a clear, short /ʌ/ and voiced /nz/—keep the vowel tight and the tongue low-mid; /z/ should feel like a vibrating endpoint. - UK: /sʌnz/ similar, but you may hear a slightly tenser vowel; keep rhotics off the syllable, ensuring a crisp /n/ before /z/. - AU: /sʌnz/ tends to be a bit broader; maintain /ʌ/ clarity, and avoid reducing the vowel to /ə/ in careful speech. Emphasize final /z/ even when speaking quickly.
Suns derives from the Old English word sunne, which traces back to Proto-Germanic sunnon and Proto-Indo-European *sóh-
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "suns" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "suns" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "suns" 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 "suns"
-uns 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.
