WUR-kurz
/ˈwɝkɚz/
workers is pronounced WUR-kurz (/ˈwɝkɚz/). Workers refers to people who perform labor or specific tasks for wages, such as industrial laborers or staff members in an organization. The term emphasizes the collective group of laborers rather than an individual, and it commonly appears in discussions of labor, employment, and workplace dynamics. Usage spans formal reports to everyday speech, often with a focus on group activity or conditions of work.
Workers refers to people who perform labor or specific tasks for wages, such as industrial laborers or staff members in an organization. The term emphasizes the collective group of laborers rather than an individual, and it commonly appears in discussions of labor, employment, and workplace dynamics. Usage spans formal reports to everyday speech, often with a focus on group activity or conditions of work.
"The workers in the factory organized a safety meeting after shift changes."
"Union leaders met to negotiate benefits for the workers."
"Temporary workers were reassigned to ensure production lines stayed efficient."
Pronounce as two syllables: /ˈwɜːrkərz/ in US; British and Australian often render it as /ˈwɜːkəz/. Start with /wɜːr/ (like 'wer' in 'were') with a rounded lips, then a reduced second syllable /kəz/ or /kərz/, and end with a voiced z. In connected speech, the final s may sound like /z/ after a voiced consonant. Emphasize the first syllable.
Common errors: 1) Skipping the /r/ or making a weak /r/ in US English; 2) Dropping the second syllable leading to /ˈwɜːk/ instead of /ˈwɜːrkərz/; 3) Mispronouncing the final /z/ as /s/ after a voiced cluster. Correction: keep a clear /r/ vowel in the first syllable and make the final /z/ voiced; practice the transition /rkər/ rather than /rkr/ to avoid a heavy staccato ending.
US: /ˈwɜːrkərz/ with a rhotic /r/ and clear /r/ in both syllables; UK/AU: often /ˈwɜːkəz/ with a reduced second syllable and less pronounced /r/ in non-rhotic varieties. In fast speech, the second syllable can blur to /ə/ or /əz/. The main differences are rhotics and the treatment of the second vowel: US keeps /ər/, UK/AU reduces to /əz/.
Two main challenges: the cluster /rk/ followed by a schwa and the final /ərz/. The /rk/ combination requires precise tongue blade contact before a mid back vowel, and the postvocalic /ər/ in rhotic varieties requires careful control of retroflex or bunched /əɹ/ realization. You may also tense the first syllable causing a less natural rhythm. Practicing the transition between /rk/ and /ər/ helps a lot.
Yes. Think of it as WER-kərz with the emphasis on WER; keep the /rk/ crisp and then quick, light /ərz/ with a voiced final /z/. A useful rehearsal is to say 'work-ers' twice slowly, then merge into 'workers' without separating the two syllables too distinctly. This aligns with natural rhythm in American English.
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The word worker derives from the Old English word werian, meaning to work or do, with the agentive suffix -er forming from Old English -ere, used to denote a person who performs an action. In Middle English, 'worker' appeared as workers or worcren referring to people who labor. Over time, the plural form workers came to denote a group of laborers, especially in industrial and economic contexts. The term is often paired with 'work' as a semantic field, and its usage broadened in the 19th and 20th centuries during the rise of industrial capitalism, unions, and organized labor movements. The contemporary sense emphasizes groups of people engaged in paid labor, distinguishing them from managers or owners. The etymology reflects social structures around labor, class, and production, echoing roots in Germanic languages where cognates share the core concept of 'work' and 'person performing an action.' First known usages appear in Middle English texts addressing labor conditions and roles, with the modern plural usage solidifying in formal and informal discourse by the Industrial Age.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "workers" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "workers" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "workers"
-ers sounds
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