TOH-kuhnz
/ˈtoʊkənz/
tokens is pronounced TOH-kuhnz (/ˈtoʊkənz/). Tokens refers to small items used to represent value, access, or identity, such as casino coins, authentication codes, or digital markers. In linguistics or computing, it can denote unitary elements like tokenized data. The term often appears in plural form when discussing collections or types of such markers. It can function as a noun in everyday language or a technical term in IT and security contexts.
Tokens refers to small items used to represent value, access, or identity, such as casino coins, authentication codes, or digital markers. In linguistics or computing, it can denote unitary elements like tokenized data. The term often appears in plural form when discussing collections or types of such markers. It can function as a noun in everyday language or a technical term in IT and security contexts.
"She inserted several tokens into the vending machine."
"The data is tokenized into separate tokens for analysis."
"Each token represents a different user permission."
US/UK/AU pronunciation centers on two syllables: TO-kens. In IPA: US /ˈtoʊ.kənz/, UK/AU /ˈtəʊ.kənz/. The primary stress is on the first syllable. Mouth position: start with a rounded “o” or long /oʊ/ in US, with a mid back vowel in UK/AU; finish with a light, unstressed /ənz/ cluster. Listening reference: you’ll hear a clean /ˈtoʊ.kənz/ in US tech talks and /ˈtəʊ.kənz/ in UK/Australian broadcasts.
Mistakes include trying to sound like one syllable: /ˈtɒk/ or splitting as /ˈtoʊkənz/ with an unnecessary extra vowel. Another error is mispronouncing the second syllable as /ˈkoʊnz/ without linking the /ən/; often heard as /ˈtoʊkənz/ rather than /ˈtoʊ.kənz/. Correction: emphasize the two-syllable rhythm with a clear /ə/ in the second syllable and a final /z/ or /s/ depending on plural. Practice breaking it as TO-kenz with a short, unstressed second vowel.
US tends to /ˈtoʊ.kənz/ with a clear diphthong in the first syllable and a rhotic influence on the /r/ absence; UK/AU typically /ˈtəʊ.kənz/ with non-rhotic syllable timing. The primary vowel quality differs: American /oʊ/ vs. British /əʊ/ and Australian /əʊ/; /ənz/ tends to be reduced slightly in rapid speech in all. Overall, the rhythm is trochaic in all three, but vowel quality and the degree of rhoticity vary subtly, affecting perceived closeness.
It challenges your ability to blend the /ə/ (schwa) into a quick /ən/ cluster and maintain a clean final /z/. The initial /to/ vs /tə/ can be tricky: you need a short, relaxed first vowel to avoid a heavy /o/ that sounds older or overly enunciated. Also, producing a precise /k/ before /ənz/ requires timing to avoid an extra syllable. Focus on starting with a light, unstressed first vowel and crisp /k/ before the nasal onset.
The combination /kənz/ at the end is a tight cluster that can bleed into a single syllable in rapid speech. You’ll hear non-native speakers merge /kənz/ into /kənz/ or /kənz/ with a weaker /ə/ and a softer /z/. To keep it distinct, practice a short /ə/ followed by a crisp /nz/ sound, ensuring the /n/ is clear before the /z/. This distance between /k/ and /z/ helps avoid slurring and maintains plural clarity.
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The word token comes from the Old Northern French token, from Latin tokenum, a sign, mark, or sign of something. The plural tokens occurs naturally in English, and the sense expanded from a physical sign or mark to any unit representing value or identity. In computing and data processing, token began to be used in the 20th century to denote a unit of meaningful data derived from a sequence of characters or elements in a stream, such as a token in programming languages (tokenization) or in security (authentication tokens). The concept traces back to the medieval idea of “tokens” as marks or signs used to indicate rights, ownership, or status, and gradually generalized to modern digital uses. First known uses in English appear in the 14th-15th centuries in legal and commercial contexts, evolving through cryptographic and computing literature in the late 20th century as digital tokens, tokens in natural language processing, and access tokens in network security became common terms.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "tokens" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "tokens"
-ken sounds
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