YUHNG-stur
/ˈjʌŋstɚ/
youngster is pronounced YUHNG-stur (/ˈjʌŋstɚ/). Youngster refers to a young person, typically a child or adolescent. It denotes someone in the early stages of life, often with connotations of energy and emerging independence. The term is informal and commonly used in everyday speech to describe someone who is not yet an adult, usually implying youthfulness rather than age precision.
Youngster refers to a young person, typically a child or adolescent. It denotes someone in the early stages of life, often with connotations of energy and emerging independence. The term is informal and commonly used in everyday speech to describe someone who is not yet an adult, usually implying youthfulness rather than age precision.
"The youngsters at the summer camp organized a talent show."
"She handed her a note, asking the youngsters to stay after class."
"The coach encouraged the youngsters to try their best during practice."
You pronounce it as /ˈjʌŋ.stə/ in most English varieties. The first syllable has a stressed, short vowel like 'cup,' followed by a clear n- sound and a light, unstressed final syllable. In US and UK speech you’ll hear the reduced /ə/ in the second syllable. Tip: start with /j/ as in 'you', then /ʌ/ as in 'strut', /ŋ/ as the velar nasal, and end with /stər/ in a quick, crisp finishing cluster. Audio references: you can compare with online dictionaries and practice with Forvo or YouGlish for native pronunciation samples.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress (treating it as YAUNJ-stir) or slurring the second syllable into the first. Another frequent error is mispronouncing the /ŋ/ as /ŋk/ or misarticulating the final /stər/ as /stər/ with a strong /r/ in non-rhotic accents. To correct: keep primary stress on the first syllable /ˈjʌŋ/ and lightly articulate the second syllable /stə/ with a reduced vowel; practice by saying 'young' + 'ster' in quick succession, emphasizing the nasal /ŋ/ and the cluster /st/ without adding extra vowel between /ŋ/ and /s/.
In US English, the first syllable is /ˈjʌŋ/, with a rhotacized neutral /ə/ in some connected speech. In UK English, you’ll hear /ˈjʌŋ.stə/ with a more clipped final /ə/. Australian English often mirrors UK but with slightly broader vowels, and the final /ə/ may sound slightly more centralized. Across all, the /ŋ/ remains a velar nasal; the main shifts are in the vowel quality of the first syllable and the reduction of the second syllable vowel. Listen for rhoticity and vowel length differences in connected speech.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster between the nasal /ŋ/ and the /st/ sequence, requiring precise tongue movement to avoid skipping sounds or adding an extra vowel. The second syllable’s schwa requires careful reduction in fast speech, which differs by dialect. Additionally, maintaining stress on the first syllable while keeping the second syllable light challenges non-native speakers and some learners due to linked sounds in rapid speech.
There are no silent letters in youngster; however, the pronunciation relies on the two-syllable rhythm and the /ŋ/ nasal in the middle. A common search query is whether the 'u' in youngster is pronounced as a full 'you' or as a reduced sound; the answer is that it’s not the long 'u' as in 'you', but the short, central vowel /ʌ/ in the first syllable, with the following /ŋ/ forming the 'young' sound. This precise placement is essential for natural-sounding speech.
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The word youngster emerges from Middle English, combining young (early life, not mature) with the agentive suffix -ster, which has historical usage in English to denote a person associated with a given quality or role (as in spinster, swagger, mobster). The -ster suffix likely derives from Old English -sċ þera or -ster from Old Norse influence, attaching to adjectives or nouns to signify a person characterized by or associated with what the root represents. The earliest recorded senses align with “a young person” or “one who is younger,” dating back to the late medieval period as English borrowed and adapted compound formations. Over time, the term broadened into informal speech, often used playfully or affectionately to refer to girls or boys who are not yet adults. In modern usage, youngster remains colloquial and slightly informal, frequently found in conversations, journalism, and narrative prose to convey youth without precise age specification. The semantic core emphasizes youthfulness, vitality, and in some contexts inexperience, while regional usage may tilt toward casual familiarity or endearment. Its first known written appearances appear in 15th- to 17th-century texts, with evolving spellings that reflect the flexible orthographic practices of Middle English transitioning into early Modern English, before stabilizing in contemporary usage. The word has also acquired occasional cultural overtones in sports, education, and media that highlight a sense of informal camaraderie among youth groups.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "youngster" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "youngster"
-ger sounds
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