TAL-uhnts
/ˈtælənts/
talents is pronounced TAL-uhnts (/ˈtælənts/). Talents refers to natural abilities or aptitudes in a person, often showcased in a particular domain. The term can also describe a collective gift or skill set possessed by an individual or group. In usage, it highlights potential and capability rather than learned competence alone, and is commonly used in contexts like performance, sports, or arts.
Talents refers to natural abilities or aptitudes in a person, often showcased in a particular domain. The term can also describe a collective gift or skill set possessed by an individual or group. In usage, it highlights potential and capability rather than learned competence alone, and is commonly used in contexts like performance, sports, or arts.
- You may drop the middle schwa, saying /ˈtælnts/ which makes it sound clipped; ensure you insert a clear /ə/ between /l/ and /nts/. - Another common misstep is conflating the ending with /t/ or /d/; keep the final /nts/ slice crisp, not as a stop + s. - Some learners blend the /t/ and the following /s/ too aggressively; practice slow articulation to separate those consonants for clarity.
"She has many talents, from painting to singing, that she can showcase on stage."
"The company is hiring people with diverse talents to strengthen the team."
"In the talent competition, each act demonstrated unique skills."
Say /ˈtæl.ənts/ (US) or /ˈtæl.ənts/ (UK/AU). Emphasize the first syllable TA as in 'cat,' then a schwa in the second syllable, and finish with nts. The tongue stops at the alveolar ridge for the final 'nts' blend; keep the /t/ and /s/ crisp while the /ə/ remains unstressed. You can listen via Forvo or Pronounce to hear real speakers.
Common errors include: 1) Misplacing stress on the second syllable (tal-ENTS). 2) Reducing the first syllable too much, saying /ˈtæ.lənts/ with a weak first vowel. 3) Running the /t/ and /s/ together without a clear /t/ release before the /s/. Correction: keep /ˈtæl/ with a crisp /t/ and a clear schwa in the middle, then articulate the /nts/ cluster distinctly.
In US, UK, and AU, the primary stress remains on the first syllable: /ˈtæl.ənts/. Vowel quality is similar, with a short æ in /tæ/, and the final /nts/ cluster is clear. The rhoticity varies: US tends to be rhotic, but /ˈtæl.ənts/ doesn’t involve rhotic vowels here. UK and AU typically maintain non-rhotic vowel sounds in connected speech, but the word itself remains with /ə/ in the middle and a crisp /n/ and /t/ before /s/.
The difficulty centers on the final consonant cluster /nts/ following a reduced schwa, which can blur in fast speech. Beginners may also mis-stress the word by emphasizing the second syllable. Focus on a clean /t/ release into /ə/ and then a precise /nts/—avoid letting the final /s/ merge with a preceding vowel. IPA guides help you confirm the sequence /ˈtæl.ənts/.
The word combines a stressed first syllable with a reduced mid vowel and a final consonant cluster that can easily be swallowed in rapid speech. Unique to ‘talents’ is articulating the transition from /l/ to /ə/ smoothly while keeping the /n/ and /t/ distinct before the /s/. Practicing with minimal pairs like talent/talents and talking in context helps solidify this specific sequence.
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- US: /ˈtæl.ənts/ with a pronounced schwa; keep rhoticity minimal here, but the tongue should approach a mid-central /ə/ without lip rounding. - UK: /ˈtæl.ənts/; slightly more clipped final s; non-rhotic vowel treatment in connected speech; the /ə/ may be slightly centralized. - AU: /ˈtæ.lənts/ or /ˈtæl.ənts/; can vary by speaker; maintain the same stress pattern, but be mindful of Australian vowel merging tendencies; avoid too much vowel rounding in the middle. IPA references help confirm subtle vowel quality differences.
Talent derives from the Latin word talentum, from talenta, meaning a balance or a scale weight, which later came to refer to a gift or ability by analogy with one’s measured capabilities. In Classical Latin, talentum signified a unit of weight used in ancient coinage and trade. The metaphorical shift to “natural ability” arises from the idea of a person’s innate “measure” or capacity. The Old French talent was adopted into English by the 14th century, with early senses tied to aptitude and ability in artistic or scholarly contexts. Over time, talent broadened beyond individual gifts to refer to a broader set of capabilities or a person who possesses notable abilities. In modern usage, talents often appear in pluralized form to indicate multiple skills possessed by a person or a group. First known English usage is attested in Middle English texts, where talent referenced weight and later metaphorically evolved through legal and educational discourses before stabilizing in contemporary usage as “a natural aptitude or skill.”
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "talents" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "talents" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "talents"
-nts sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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