TEYE-gurz
/ˈtaɪɡɚz/
tigers is pronounced TEYE-gurz (/ˈtaɪɡɚz/). Tigers refers to the large, muscular, carnivorous cats of the genus Panthera, known for their striped coats and stealthy hunting. In everyday usage, the plural form tigers denotes more than one tiger. The word combines a plural suffix with the root tiger, referring to the species generally or to individuals within it. It is commonly used in zoological, educational, and conservation contexts.
Tigers refers to the large, muscular, carnivorous cats of the genus Panthera, known for their striped coats and stealthy hunting. In everyday usage, the plural form tigers denotes more than one tiger. The word combines a plural suffix with the root tiger, referring to the species generally or to individuals within it. It is commonly used in zoological, educational, and conservation contexts.
"The tigers in the reserve were photographed by researchers."
"Two adult tigers lounged near the riverbank, watching for prey."
"Researchers study the behavior of tigers to protect endangered populations."
Pronounce as /ˈtaɪ.dʒərz/ in US and UK; in careful speech you can segment as TI-gerz. The initial stressed syllable has the long I (/aɪ/) and the second syllable centers on the /dʒ/ affricate sound, followed by a voiced /ər/ in non-rhotic accents. Final /z/ is voiced. Listen to recordings on Pronounce or Forvo to hear the /ˈtaɪ.dʒərz/ rhythm and the subtle vowel rounding in the second syllable.
Common mistakes: mispronouncing the second syllable as /gerz/ (dropping the d͡ʒ) or blurring the /ˈtaɪ/ into a short vowel. To correct: start with /taɪ/ (like ‘tie’) for the first syllable, insert a clear /dʒ/ in the second syllable, and end with /ərz/. Practice by isolating /taɪ/ then /dʒərz/ in slow, exaggerated steps, then blend.
US: /ˈtaɪ.dʒərz/ with rhotic ending; UK: /ˈtaɪ.dʒəz/ or /ˈtaɪ.dʒəz/ with non-rhotic /ə/ in some regions; AU: typically /ˈtaɪ.dʒəz/ with non-rhotic tendencies and a slightly broader vowel in the first syllable. The main differences lie in rhoticity and vowel quality of the second syllable: rhotic /ər/ vs reduced /ə/ or /əː/.
The difficulty centers on the cluster /dʒər/ in the second syllable and the transition from the long diphthong /aɪ/ to the affricate /dʒ/ and rhotic or reduced vowel depending on accent. The tongue must move from a high-front /aɪ/ to an affricate /dʒ/ and then to a voiced central vowel ending with /z/—a sequence that can blur in connected speech.
Stress and voicing are essential: the first syllable bears the primary stress and uses a clear /aɪ/ diphthong; the second syllable begins with a voiced alveo-palatal affricate /dʒ/ and ends with a voiced /z/. In careful pronunciation you’ll hear the crisp /dʒ/ and the final /z/ that can sound almost like a voiced /s/ in rapid speech. IPA cue: /ˈtaɪ.dʒərz/.
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The word tiger comes from Old English tigras, from Latin tigris, inherited from Greek tiktor or tigris, with possible earlier Iranian or Sinitic influences. The root is linked to the Old Persian tigra, meaning ‘arrow’ or ‘sharp’, perhaps alluding to the animal’s swift movement. The plural -s in English emerged in the Middle English period as a regular plural marker applied to animal nouns. The semantic development shifted from referring to a single adult tiger to a broader taxonomic sense for multiple individuals of the species Panthera tigris. First known use as a plural noun in English is attested in medieval zoological texts, though the singular form appears in classic literature earlier. Over centuries, “tiger” broadened to modern scientific and educational discourse, retaining strong cultural associations with strength, danger, and striped camouflage.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "tigers" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "tigers" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "tigers"
-ers sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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