YAHNG-kurz
/ˈjɑŋkɚz/
yonkers is pronounced YAHNG-kurz (/ˈjɑŋkɚz/). Yonkers is a plural noun referring to residents of Yonkers, New York, or colloquially to people from Yonkers in a humorous or informal context. The term can also be used metonymically to denote a group fromYonkers. It carries casual, everyday tone and is often encountered in American English contexts, particularly when discussing demographics or regional identity.
Yonkers is a plural noun referring to residents of Yonkers, New York, or colloquially to people from Yonkers in a humorous or informal context. The term can also be used metonymically to denote a group fromYonkers. It carries casual, everyday tone and is often encountered in American English contexts, particularly when discussing demographics or regional identity.
"The Yonkers celebrate their local festival every summer."
"My cousin from Yonkers loves classic New York bagels."
"We drove through Yonkers on the way to the city for the concert."
Pronounce as YOŋ-kərz with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US ˈjɒŋ.kərz, UK ˈjɒŋ.kəz, AU ˈjɒŋ.kəs. Start with the /j/ sound like 'y' in yes, then the open back vowel /ɒ/ as in 'lot', followed by /ŋ/ nasal, and an unstressed /kərz/ or /kəz/ ending. Aim for a clean, rapid two-syllable rhythm and avoid turning the second syllable into a separate vowel. You’ll produce the final /z/ clearly when in plural form, but in fast speech it may weaken a bit.
Common errors include: 1) Replacing /j/ with a hard /dʒ/ or /ʃ/ sound, 2) pronouncing the second syllable as /ɒn/ or /oʊ/ instead of /kər/ or /kəz/, and 3) misplacing stress or adding an extra syllable (/ˈjɒŋ.kə.rz/). Correction tips: keep /j/ immediately followed by a short /ɒ/; compress the second syllable to a schwa-centered /kər/ or /kəz/; stress the first syllable and maintain a crisp /z/ at the end when plural. Practice with slow, deliberate articulations before speeding up.
In US and general American, the first syllable carries primary stress: ˈjɒŋ.kərz. The second syllable uses a rhotacized or reduced vowel in some speakers, producing /ˈjɒŋ.kɚz/; final /z/ is clear. In UK English, you may hear /ˈjɒŋ.kəz/ with a more centralized vowel in the second syllable and a softer /z/ realization; non-rhoticity is not as relevant here since it’s a lexical item. Australian speakers may reduce the second vowel further to /ˈjɒŋ.kəs/ with a shorter, closer vowel and a less forceful final /z/. Overall differences hinge on rhoticity and vowel quality in the second syllable.
The difficulty stems from the cluster /ŋ.k/ sequence and the contrastive vowel quality in the second syllable, plus ensuring the final /z/ is audible in rapid speech. The first syllable requires a precise /j/ onset and rounded /ɒ/ before the velar nasal, which can be easy to merge with a following /ŋ/. The second syllable often reduces or shifts vowels, risking /kə/ becoming /kə/ or /kɜ/. Focusing on keeping the velar stop and nasal distinct and landing a clear /z/ helps maintain accuracy.
A useful nuance is to maintain a crisp /k/ release before the /ɚ/ or /ə/ in the second syllable, so you don’t glide into a vowel-less /ŋk/ cluster. Be mindful of connected speech: in rapid conversation, you may hear a subtle vowel reduction to /kər/ or /kəz/, while careful pronunciation keeps the /ɒ/ and /ŋ/ distinct in the first syllable. Practicing with the phrase 'Yonkers residents' can reinforce the correct linking and cadence.
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Yonkers originates from the city of Yonkers in Westchester County, New York. The name Yonkers is derived from the Dutch surname Jonkheer van Yonck (or de Jongh), associated with early Dutch settlers in the area; over time, the name of the settlement shortened to Yonkers. The term population-based usage developed as a demonym: Yonkers residents came to be referred to as Yonkers or Yonkersers in informal speech, with the latter forming as a playful or emphatic variant. In literature and journalism, references to Yonkers residents appeared in the 19th and 20th centuries, often highlighting urban-suburban identity, local culture, and neighborhood pride. The plural noun usage has solidified in American English, with “Yonkers” also serving as a shorthand for people from Yonkers in colloquial speech, sometimes used humorously or affectionately. Today, the word maintains its primary geographic reference while also functioning as a marker of regional identity and community belonging. First known use as a proper noun for the city predates widespread use as a collective descriptor; the exact first printed instance of “Yonkers” as a demonym is not precisely cataloged, but it emerged naturally from naming conventions for residents of a named place in the northeastern United States.
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Words that rhyme with "yonkers"
-ers sounds
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