TAY-kurz
/ˈteɪkɚz/
takers is pronounced TAY-kurz (/ˈteɪkɚz/). Takers is a plural noun referring to people who take something, especially without permission or beyond an accepted limit; it can also describe individuals who adopt or assume a role or opportunity. In everyday usage, it often conveys a slightly negative or critical nuance, as in someone who takes more than their share or who seizes chances. The term appears in legal, financial, and colloquial contexts.
Takers is a plural noun referring to people who take something, especially without permission or beyond an accepted limit; it can also describe individuals who adopt or assume a role or opportunity. In everyday usage, it often conveys a slightly negative or critical nuance, as in someone who takes more than their share or who seizes chances. The term appears in legal, financial, and colloquial contexts.
"The negotiators warned that the takers would try to claim a larger share of the profits."
"In the scandal, several executives were labeled as takers for siphoning funds."
"The lottery participants didn’t want to be seen as takers, hoping for a fair draw."
Pronounce as /ˈteɪ.kərz/ in US and UK; Australian English often aligns with /ˈteɪ.kəz/. Start with a stressed first syllable TEI (teɪ) with a long a, followed by a schwa or mid central vowel in the second syllable, and end with a voiced z sound. In fast speech, the /ər/ can reduce to a quick schwa+r sound, so it can sound like /ˈteɪ.kɚz/. Mouth: front vowel for TEI, relaxed tongue, and slight jaw drop for the second syllable.
Common errors include: (1) misplacing stress on the second syllable (ta-KERS) instead of first (TA-kers); (2) pronouncing the second syllable as a full 'er' (/ɛər/ or /ɜː/) rather than a reduced /ər/; (3) voicing the final /z/ as /s/ in rapid speech. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, use a light, quick /ər/ or /ə/ before the final /z/, and end with a clear voiced /z/. Practice with minimal pairs like 'taker' vs 'takers' and 'rakers' to ensure the /z/ is voiced.
In US and UK, the final z is voiced and the first syllable carries primary stress: /ˈteɪ.kərz/. US may have a slightly longer /ɚ/ in the second syllable; UK tends toward a shorter /ə/ with less rhoticity influence in rapid speech. Australian typically aligns with /ˈteɪ.kəz/ or /ˈteɪ.kə(r)z/, with a more centralized vowel in the second syllable and slightly less rhotic coloring. In all cases, keep the initial /teɪ/ stable and crisp, then a quick /k/ onset before the vowel reduction and final /z/.
Because it packs a tense vowel in the first syllable /eɪ/ that can influence the following consonants, and the second syllable reduces to a schwa-like vowel before a voiced /z/, which can lead to chting residents from a longer /ər/ to a shorter /ə/. Also, the final voiced /z/ can blend with the preceding vowel in connected speech, producing a subtle change in length and loudness. Focus on maintaining a crisp /ˈteɪ/ and a clear, reduced second syllable before the /z/.
In General American, the second syllable often has a rhotacized vowel that can be reduced to /ɚ/ or /ər/ depending on stress and pace; in careful speech you’ll hear a distinct rhotic vowel /ɚ/ with a mild r-colored schwa. In non-rhotic accents like some UK varieties, the /ɹ/ may be less prominent and the second vowel may be more centralized. The key is to avoid a full /ɜːr/ or /ɛr/ and to land on a quick, relaxed /ɚ/ or /ə/ before /z/.
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Takers derives from the verb take, with the agentive -er suffix forming taker to denote a person who takes. The word is first attested in English in the 16th century as a general noun for someone who takes or seizes. In modern usage, taker often carries evaluative nuance, especially in phrases like “time taker” or “money taker,” implying appropriation or exploitation. The semantic expansion includes contexts where someone assumes a role or benefit (e.g., “opportunity taker”) or participates in activities that involve taking, whether legally or illicitly. The word’s frequency rose with financial and media discourse where “taker” could label individuals who claim more than their share. Etymologically, taker is a straightforward agent noun from take, aligning with other English agent nouns such as maker, doer, and buyer. It has become common in both formal and informal registers, often used as a pejorative label in critiques of behavior, policy, or supply-sharing dynamics. The form takers, as a plural, simply marks the class of people characterized by such action, and the word is compatible with countless collocations, including “takers and not takers,” “give-and-take,” and “taker culture,” highlighting societal attitudes toward sharing and fairness.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "takers" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "takers"
-ers sounds
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