TRAY-turz
/ˈtɹeɪtɚz/
traitors is pronounced TRAY-turz (/ˈtɹeɪtɚz/). Traitors are individuals who betray a trust or allegiance. The term typically carries strong moral condemnation and refers to someone who acts against a group, cause, or country. In discourse, it often signals a breach of loyalty and can be used in historical, political, or literary contexts.
Traitors are individuals who betray a trust or allegiance. The term typically carries strong moral condemnation and refers to someone who acts against a group, cause, or country. In discourse, it often signals a breach of loyalty and can be used in historical, political, or literary contexts.
"The traitors were exposed after the leaked documents implicated them in the conspiracy."
"Historians debated whether the traitors' actions actually harmed the nation or forced necessary reforms."
"In the novel, the loyal knight discovers that a trusted advisor is a traitor in disguise."
Traitors is pronounced /ˈtreɪ.tərz/ in US and UK; in Australian accents you’ll hear /ˈtreɪ.təz/ with a slightly reduced second syllable. The primary stress is on the first syllable: 'TRAI-ters'. The second syllable is a schwa-ish 'tər' in many speakers, followed by a voiced 'z' at the end. When practicing, start with the two clear syllables and end with the z-voice tip: keep the vocal folds vibrating as you release the final /z/.
Common errors: flattening the first vowel so it sounds like a plain 'tray' without the -er element; misplacing the stress or making the second syllable too strong. Another mistake is not voicing the final /z/ or hardening it into /s/. Correction: emphasize the first syllable with /ˈtreɪ/ and relax the second to /tər/ or /təz/ depending on locale, ensuring you voice the final /z/ clearly.
US vs UK vs AU: US tends to raise the vowel in /eɪ/ as in 'rain' before the /t/, with a clear /ər/ in the second syllable and a final /z/. UK often yields a non-rhotic feel, but -tors ends with /tə(r)z/ where the 'r' is weaker; AU tends to be closer to US with a slightly more fronted vowel and a more relaxed /t/ or /t/ with a light /ə/ in the second syllable. All share final /z/ voiced, but vowel quality and the second syllable duration vary.
Two challenges: the sequence of vowels in /treɪ/ and the schwa+r vowel cluster in /tər/ can be tricky for non-native speakers depending on their native phonology. Additionally, many learners confuse final /z/ with /s/ when it's followed by a consonant in connected speech. Tip: practice the two syllables slowly, then tarry the final /z/ with audible voicing and avoid rurally cutting the /t/ sound.
Yes — the /ˈtreɪ/ onset requires a precise diphthong that slides from /eɪ/ to /ɪ/ if you’re aiming for a slower, careful delivery, and the /tərz/ ending demands a short, controlled /ə/ before the /z/. Pay attention to the transition from the stressed syllable vowel to the unstressed /ər/ and keep the final /z/ voiced. In some speech, you’ll hear a light /ɪ/ or /ə/ in the second syllable depending on regional rhythm.
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The word traitor comes from the Latin traitor, meaning ‘one who betrays, a betrayer’, from the verb tradere ‘to hand over, surrender, betray’. The earliest English attestation dates to the 13th century, derived via Old French traitor. Initially, the term carried strong legal and moral judgment, referencing acts that violated fealty or allegiance. Throughout the medieval and early modern periods, traitor distinctions were formalized in law (for example, declaring traitors subject to specific penalties). By the 16th and 17th centuries, literary and political discourse broadened the term to describe anyone who betrays a person, a cause, or a country, sometimes used pejoratively in rhetoric and propaganda. In contemporary usage, traitor remains a charged label, often embedded with normative judgments about loyalty, with the word functioning across historical, political, and fictional registers.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "traitors" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "traitors" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "traitors" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "traitors"
-ers sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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