TEN-uhts
/ˈtɛnəts/
tenets is pronounced TEN-uhts (/ˈtɛnəts/). Tenets are the fundamental principles or beliefs that guide a system of thought or behavior. They function as core doctrines that members of a group accept and uphold, outlining what is considered true or valuable. In debate and policy, tenets help structure arguments and establish shared standards of interpretation.
Tenets are the fundamental principles or beliefs that guide a system of thought or behavior. They function as core doctrines that members of a group accept and uphold, outlining what is considered true or valuable. In debate and policy, tenets help structure arguments and establish shared standards of interpretation.
"The tenets of the faith emphasize compassion and humility."
"The company's guiding tenets include integrity, innovation, and customer focus."
"Scholars debated whether these tenets still apply in the digital age."
Pronounce it as /ˈtɛn.ɪts/ (US) or /ˈten.ɪts/ (UK/Australia). The first syllable carries primary stress: TEN-ets. The vowel in the first syllable is short as in 'ten'. The second syllable uses a short /ɪ/ vowel and ends with /ts/. Tip: say TEN with a crisp, clipped short vowel, then add a quick /ɪts/ with the final voiceless /t s/ cluster. You can reference comparative audio in dictionaries for confirmation.
Common errors: (1) pronouncing as ‘ten-ents’ with a schwa in the second syllable; (2) flattening the first vowel to a lax /ɪ/ without crisp /ɛ/; (3) misplacing stress as TEN-əts or te-NETS. Correction: keep the first syllable as /ˈtɛn/ (like ‘tend’ without the d) and follow with a concise /ɪts/; ensure the /t/ is released clearly before /s/. Practice with minimal pairs like TEN-ets vs TEN-ents to fix the vowel and consonant timing.
In US English, /ˈtɛn.ɪts/ with a short /e/ in the first syllable. UK/AU typically /ˈten.ɪts/, maintaining the short /e/ but with a faster, crisper /t/ release before /ɪts/. The rhoticity doesn’t affect vowel quality here, but Australian speakers may have a slightly broader vowel in /e/ and a more compact /t/ release. Overall, stress remains on the first syllable in all three, with minor vowel length differences.
The challenge lies in the short, tense vowel in the first syllable and the rapid, consonant cluster in the second syllable (/ts/). Many speakers mispronounce as TEN-ents or misplace stress. Focus on a crisp /ˈtɛn/ followed quickly by /ɪts/, with a clear, unreleased or lightly released /t/ before the /s/. This word also tests listeners’ ability to hear the subtle vowel difference between /ɛ/ and /e/ in some accents.
In careful, careful speech, the final 's' in tenets is typically voiceless /s/ or a lightly aspirated /ts/ cluster rather than a voiced /z/. Because /s/ in English follows a voiceless /t/ cluster, the typical ending is /ts/—so you hear a crisp /t/ before the /s/, not a buzzing /z/. In fast speech, the /t/ can be crunched into a quick /t/ release before the /s/.
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Tenet comes from Latin tenet, meaning 'he/she holds, possesses' (from the verb tenēre, to hold). The plural tenets entered English in the 15th–16th centuries, initially used in theological or philosophical contexts to denote holding beliefs or principles. The term was adopted into broader intellectual vocabulary to describe the fundamental propositions or assumptions underlying a theory, doctrine, or system. Over time, tenets evolved from stark doctrinal assertions to more flexible, contextualized principles within organizations and movements, while retaining its core sense of something held with conviction. In modern usage, tenets frequently appear in discussions of ethics, policy, religion, and strategic frameworks, where a concise set of central beliefs anchors discourse and decision-making. The word emphasizes the act of holding or adhering to a principle rather than merely referencing it superficially. First known uses often align with religious or scholastic discourses, reflecting its roots in cautious, reasoned assertion about what is to be accepted or followed.
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Words that rhyme with "tenets"
-ets sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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