TAY-lurz
/ˈteɪlɚz/
tailors is pronounced TAY-lurz (/ˈteɪlɚz/). Tailors is a plural noun or verb form referring to people who make, mend, or alter clothing to fit someone. As a noun, it denotes professionals in garment construction; as a verb, it means to modify clothing to a better fit. The term carries connotations of precision, craft, and bespoke service in fashion contexts.
Tailors is a plural noun or verb form referring to people who make, mend, or alter clothing to fit someone. As a noun, it denotes professionals in garment construction; as a verb, it means to modify clothing to a better fit. The term carries connotations of precision, craft, and bespoke service in fashion contexts.
"The tailors at the boutique can adjust the suit to fit perfectly."
"She tailors her wardrobe to suit formal events and travel."
"The tailor’s shop specializes in custom-made meng and alterations for wedding gowns."
Tailors is pronounced as TEY-lurz in US and UK, with the primary stress on the first syllable. Phonetic: /ˈteɪ.lərz/ (US) or /ˈteɪ.lɔːz/ (UK in some dialects). The first syllable uses the long A as in
Common mistakes include merging the two syllables into a quick ‘tailors’ as one beat, pronouncing as /ˈtæɪlɚz/ with a lax /æ/ vowel, or failing to pronounce the second syllable clearly as /lərz/. Correction: keep /eɪ/ in the first syllable, then release a light, unstressed /ər/ or /ərz/ in the second, ending with a clear /z/. Practice the two-syllable feel: TEY-lərz, not TAY-lerz run together.
In US English, tailors is /ˈteɪ.lərz/ with rhoticity giving a clear /ər/ in the second syllable. UK English tends to have a slightly shorter /ə/ in the second syllable and may reduce to /ˈteɪ.lɔːz/ in some southern accents, making the second syllable more open. Australian English often has a broader /æɪ/ or a drawn-out /eɪ/ with less rhotic emphasis, and the final /z/ may be softer in rapid speech. IPA references: US /ˈteɪ.lɚz/, UK /ˈteɪ.lɔːz/, AU /ˈteɪ.ləz/.
The difficulty stems from the outcome consonant cluster /lz/ after a lighter second syllable and the reduced schwa in the second vowel. Many learners flatten the /ər/ to a schwa or mispronounce the first syllable as /tæɪ/ rather than /ˈteɪ/. The key is keeping the long /eɪ/ in the first syllable, then producing a clear, light /l/ followed by a voiced /z/. IPA cues: /ˈteɪ.ləɹz/ or /ˈteɪ.lɔːz/ depending on accent.
In some UK dialects and fast speech, the /l/ in the second syllable can become syllabic or less distinct, leading to a faint /l/ and a smoother transition to /z/, which might sound closer to 'tollers' to a non-native listener. But standard, careful speech keeps /l/ as a clear consonant before /z/. Listening for the second syllable vowel helps: TEY-lərz vs TOL-ers. Listen to native examples in Forvo or YouGlish to capture authentic vowels.
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Tailor derives from Middle English tailour, borrowed from Old French taillier, which itself comes from Latin taliare, meaning to cut or shape wood or metal, from talus or taila (cutting). The root connection emphasizes shaping or cutting fabric to fit. In medieval times, skilled tailors provided bespoke garments for nobility, and the word evolved to denote both the craft and its practitioners. The modern plural noun tailors appears in early modern English usage as tailors to describe several craftsmen or as a verb form meaning to adjust clothing. Over centuries, the sense shifted from the general act of cutting to the specialized service of making or altering clothing for a precise fit, often in a professional workshop setting. First known uses appear in 14th- to 15th-century English texts, with the craft becoming a distinguished occupation as tailoring shops became common in urban centers. The term gained further modern prominence with industrialization, fashion houses, and bespoke tailoring traditions that emphasize fit, drape, and the artisan’s hand.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "tailors" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "tailors" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "tailors"
-ors sounds
-ils sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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