tran-ZIS-turz
/tɹæˈnzɪstɚz/
transistors is pronounced tran-ZIS-turz (/tɹæˈnzɪstɚz/). Transistors are miniature electronic switches and amplifiers made of semiconductor material, typically used to control current flow in circuits. They form the building blocks of modern electronics, enabling signal processing and amplification in devices from radios to computers. The plural form, transistors, refers to more than one such device, or to a family of transistor types.
Transistors are miniature electronic switches and amplifiers made of semiconductor material, typically used to control current flow in circuits. They form the building blocks of modern electronics, enabling signal processing and amplification in devices from radios to computers. The plural form, transistors, refers to more than one such device, or to a family of transistor types.
- Incorrect stress placement: place primary stress on the wrong syllable (e.g., /ˈtrænsɪstərz/ instead of /trænsˈɪstərz/). Fix by tapping the rhythm and emphasizing the third syllable in practice, then reinforce with minimal pairs. - Mispronouncing the middle vowel: /ɪs/ vs /ɪz/ and conflating /tərz/. Correct by practicing /-stərz/ and the link from /ɪ/ to /s/ without creating a /z/ merge. - Final cluster slurring: add an extra vowel or drop the final z; ensure the final is a crisp /z/ in all contexts. Use slow drills to sustain /t/ then a clean /ərz/.
"The lab reported a breakthrough in transistor efficiency for low-power devices."
"Older radios relied on vacuum tubes, but transistors replaced them in the 1960s."
"These transistors are arranged in a circuit to boost audio signals."
Break it into four sounds: /trænsɪsˈtɔːrz/ in US or /trænˈzɪstəz/ in UK; primary stress on the third syllable in many contexts. Start with /træns/ (like 'trans'), then /ɪs/ or /ɪz/ depending on accent, then /ˈtɔːrz/ or /təːz/ for the final syllables. In practice, you’ll hear the middle component reduced slightly: trans- + -i + stors. IPA references: US /trænsˈɪstərz/, UK /trænˈzɪstəz/. Listen to native speakers for subtle vowels; Pronounce.org or Forvo can provide audio examples.
Two frequent errors are misplacing the stress and mispronouncing the middle vowel cluster. People often say trans-STOR-ers or trans-SIS-tors. Correct approach: keep the primary stress on the third syllable: trans-IS-tors (US) or trans-IST-ors with careful /ɪ/ in the middle and a clear /t/ before the final /ərz/. Practice saying /trænsɪsˈtɔːrz/ (US) and /trænˈzɪstəz/ (UK), then adapt to natural rhythm. Mouth positions: start with a light alveolar /n/ blend, then a clear /s/ before the /ɪ/ or /ɪ/ vowel, and finally a voiceless cluster before the r-colored final.
US tends to reduce the middle vowel slightly and emphasize the final /ˈtɔːrz/ with r-coloring; UK often features a sharper /z/ and a slightly higher vowel in the second syllable, yielding /trænˈzɪstəz/ with non-rhotic or weak rhotic slightness depending on speaker. Australian tends to be closer to UK in vowel quality but with a more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and a clear final /z/. Tip: listen for rhoticity and vowel quality; export IPA forms /trænsˈɪstərz/ (US), /trænˈzɪstəz/ (UK), /trænsˈɪstəz/ (AU).
The challenge lies in the consonant cluster around the middle and the heavy, multiple syllables with rapid transitions: /træns/ + /ɪ/ + /stərz/. The /t/ + /s/ sequence before the central vowel can blur, and the final /ərz/ can become an unstressed schwa plus /z/ sound in rapid speech. Focus on the clear /t/ before /ər/ and a slight pause or separation between the /ɪ/ and /st/ to keep each segment distinct. IPA helps you model the timing and place of articulation precisely.
A distinctive feature is maintaining an audible, light alveolar /n/ leading into the /s/ cluster and keeping the /t/ of the third syllable crisp before the /ərz/. The plural ending /-ərz/ should be voiced but not drawn out; avoid turning it into /-əz/ or /-əzər/ in careful speech. Practically, you’ll monitor the transition from /n/ into /s/ and ensure the /t/ doesn’t assimilate into a flap. IPA: US /trænsˈɪstərz/, UK /trænˈzɪstəz/.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "transistors"!
- US: rhotic r-coloring, clear /t/ and /r/; middle /ɪ/ is lax, final /ərz/ retains a distinct rhotacized vowel. - UK: non-rhotic or soft rhotic; the final /z/ is clear, middle vowel tends toward /ɪ/ or /ɪə/?; more clipped final. - AU: similar to UK but with a flatter vowel in the second syllable; avoid heavy r-fulness; keep final /z/ crisp. IPA references: US /trænsˈɪstərz/, UK /trænˈzɪstəz/, AU /trænsˈɪstəz/; practice with minimal pairs to tune vowel quality and final consonant clarity.
Transistor comes from the combination of “transfer” and “resistor” in the early 20th century electrical engineering jargon. The term was popularized in the 1950s after the successful invention of the transistor as a solid-state device that could control electronic signals. The root idea is a device that transfers current or signal via a resistive (semiconducting) junction, replacing bulky vacuum tubes. The first use in print appears around 1947–1950 in engineering literature as researchers described a “transfer resistor” concept leading to the modern transistor. As fabrication techniques refined, the name stuck, and the word broadened to include various transistor families (bipolar junction transistors, field-effect transistors) used across electronics. The evolution reflects a shift from electron tubes to solid-state devices, enabling miniaturization, lower power consumption, and greater reliability, transforming computing, communications, and consumer electronics. The plural form transistors has appeared in technical writing since the mid-20th century as devices moved from single prototypes to common components in circuits worldwide.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "transistors" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "transistors" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "transistors" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "transistors"
-ors sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
