3 syllables: Vet, er, ans. Stress on Vet.
VET-ur-uhnz
/ˈvɛtɚənz/
Veterans is pronounced VET-ur-uhnz (/ˈvɛtɚənz/). It has three syllables (Vet-er-ans), with the stress on "Vet". Veterans (noun) refers to individuals who have served in the armed forces, typically in a formal military retirement or for a significant period. The term can also describe a person with long experience in a field. In everyday usage, it carries respect and recognition for service or long-standing involvement. Plural form is used for more than one veteran.
nounVeterans (noun) refers to individuals who have served in the armed forces, typically in a formal military retirement or for a significant period. The term can also describe a person with long experience in a field. In everyday usage, it carries respect and recognition for service or long-standing involvement. Plural form is used for more than one veteran.
- You may drop the middle syllable, saying vet-erns or vent-erns in fast speech. Practice by isolating vet-uh-rənz and gradually speeding up while keeping the middle vowel distinct. - Another mistake is making the middle vowel overly long (like /eɪ/ or /ɜː/). Keep it short and neutral /ə/; imagine a soft, quick transition between vets and rənz. - Final consonant confusion occurs when the /z/ is devoiced or silent in casual talk. Train with echo drills: say /ˈvɛ.tə.rənz/ slowly, then add speed while maintaining a voiced final /z/. - Some speakers misplace the primary stress, moving it to the second syllable. Remember: the stress is on the first syllable: /ˈvɛ.tə.rənz/; practice with a single-stress cue and a rising intonation after the first syllable.
How to Pronounce Veterans
"The veterans gathered to honor fallen comrades at the memorial ceremony."
"A local count of veterans participated in the parade."
"The veterans clinic offers specialized health care for former service members."
US/UK pronunciation is /ˈvɛtərənz/. Start with a stressed first syllable “vet” as in veteran. The second syllable is a quick schwa “uh” sound, and the final syllable is an audible “nz” cluster. For precision, pronounce /ˈvɛ.tə.rənz/ with a light, quick middle syllable. Audio references: consult standard dictionaries or pronunciation platforms and listen for the unstressed middle. IPA guide and mouth positions will help you shape the r and neutral vowel.
Common errors include: (1) compressing to two syllables as /ˈvɛtərnz/ — you must insert a reduced middle syllable /ə/; (2) mispronouncing the second syllable as a full vowel like /eɪ/ or /ɜː/ instead of a schwa /ə/; (3) mishandling the final /z/ in connected speech, often voicing it too strongly. Correct by practicing: vet-uh-rənz, with a very short middle vowel and a soft, voiced final z, not a hard zound. Use slow practice with IPA cues to fix.
- US/Canada: three syllables with /ˈvɛ.tə.rənz/, rhotics often pronounced; gentle /ə/ in the middle. - UK: similar three-syllable pattern, but final syllable might be slightly reduced and vowels more clipped; /ˈvɛ.tə.rənz/. - Australian: similar structure, but vowel quality in the first syllable may be more open; final /z/ remains. The main differences lie in rhoticity and vowel quality; the stress remains on the first syllable. In fast speech, vowels may weaken toward a near-schwa in all variants.
The difficulty lies in maintaining a clean three-syllable rhythm with an unstressed middle syllable /ə/. Speakers often merge the middle /ə/ with surrounding sounds, producing /ˈvɛtərnz/ or /ˈvɛtərən/ without the final -z sound. It requires precise articulation of the /t/ between syllables and a soft, voiced /z/ at the end. Practicing with slow, deliberate enunciation helps you retain the stress pattern and avoid vowel reduction errors.
Yes — the central challenge is preserving the middle weak syllable /ə/ while keeping the final voiced /z/ distinct, especially in rapid speech. Many speakers reduce the middle to almost a schwa that blends with adjacent vowels; focus on a clear, short /ə/ and a crisp /z/ to preserve the word’s cadence. Also, ensure the initial /v/ is not devoiced, as it can drift in rapid speech.
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- US: Non-rhotic? Most US speakers are rhotic, so the /r/ in /rənz/ is pronounced; keep the tip curled slightly yet relaxed. First vowel /ɛ/ is open-mid; ensure /t/ is a clean alveolar stop between syllables. - UK: Typically non-rhotic; if your accent unvoiced /r/, the /r/ is less prominent in coda position. The middle /ə/ remains a central schwa; ensure smooth linking to /rənz/. - AU: Similar to US with a tendency toward slightly broader vowels; be mindful of a slightly longer first vowel and a more relaxed /r/ in some speakers. IPA references: /ˈvɛ.tə.rənz/ across variants; adjust to rhoticity and minor vowel shift per region.
The word veteran comes from the Latin veterānus meaning 'old, established, experienced' and is formed from vetus ‘old’ plus -anus. In English, it entered earlier from Old French veterain and Middle French veterain(e), evolving through military contexts to denote someone who has completed a long service in the armed forces. By the 17th century, the term broadened beyond strictly military use to describe someone with extensive experience in any field. The plural form veterans appears in the 16th–18th centuries with widespread military contexts, and today it commonly honors those who have served, with a tone of respect and recognition for sacrifice and experience. The word’s semantic core—old, experienced, and seasoned—remains stable even as contexts shift toward civilian veteran communities and advocacy groups.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Veterans" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Veterans"
-ens sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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