3 syllables: Zo, di, acs. Stress on Zo.
ZOH-dee-ak-siz
/ˈzoʊdiːæksɪz/
Zodiacs is pronounced ZOH-dee-ak-siz (/ˈzoʊdiːæksɪz/). It has three syllables (Zo-di-acs), with the stress on "Zo". Zodiacs is the plural form of zodiac, referring to the twelve astrological signs or to a single astrological chart used for a person’s horoscope. In everyday use it denotes the celestial band where the Sun, Moon, and planets appear, or the corresponding signs within that system. The term is commonly encountered in astrology discussions, horoscopes, or fiction involving zodiacal imagery.
nounZodiacs is the plural form of zodiac, referring to the twelve astrological signs or to a single astrological chart used for a person’s horoscope. In everyday use it denotes the celestial band where the Sun, Moon, and planets appear, or the corresponding signs within that system. The term is commonly encountered in astrology discussions, horoscopes, or fiction involving zodiacal imagery.
"She read the Zodiacs as part of her horoscope for the week."
"In class, we compared the dates of the Zodiacs to learn about sun signs."
"The novelist uses Zodiacs to symbolize character destinies."
Pronounce as /ˈzoʊ.di.æks/ (US) or /ˈzəʊ.di.æks/ (UK/AU). Stress falls on the first syllable: ZO- di-acs. Start with the long 'o' as in 'go', then 'di' like 'dee', and end with 'aks' like 'ax' with a clear /k/ before /s/. Think of it as three clear syllables: ZOH-dee-acks. If you hear it said quickly, it still remains three syllables with a prominent initial beat.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (putting it on the second or third syllable), mispronouncing the first syllable as /ˈzɒd-/ or /ˈzɔː/ instead of /ˈzoʊ/ or /ˈzəʊ/, and running the final /æks/ together as /æks/ with a too-weak /k/ release. To fix: keep a strong initial /zoʊ/ or /ˈzəʊ/ with a crisp, separate /di/ and a clear /æks/ ending. Use a short pause between syllables if clarity is needed in rapid speech.
US often uses /ˈzoʊ.di.æks/ with strong /oʊ/ and clear alveolar /d/. UK/AU typically favor /ˈzəʊ.di.æks/ with a schwa in the first syllable and a rounded starting vowel; final /æks/ remains similar. Rhoticity affects the following vowels in connected speech; in careful speech you may hear /ˈzoʊ.di.æks/ more in US, /ˈzəʊ.di.æks/ in UK/AU, but pace and vowel height can vary with regional accents.
Three challenges: the initial vowel cluster in /zoʊ/ or /zəʊ/ can be unfamiliar if you’re used to shorter vowels; the /di/ syllable requires a clean, voiced-alveolar stop with a quick transition to the /æ/ in /æks/; and the final /æks/ demands a crisp /k/ release before the /s/. Practice keeping jaw steady, lips relaxed for the rounded /oʊ/ or /əʊ/, and emphasize each consonant to avoid slurring.
Note the plural form adds an extra syllable compared with ‘zodiac.’ Place the primary stress on the first syllable, making ‘ZO-’ clearly prominent. In fast speech, you may reduce to ZOH-dee-aks in some slurred contexts, but in careful articulation you should keep the three distinct phonemes /ˈzoʊ/ or /ˈzəʊ/, /di/, /æks/. This helps avoid confusion with ‘zodiacs’ sounding like ‘zod-i-acks’ with a weak second vowel.
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Zodiac comes from Old French zodiac (mid-13th century), borrowed from Late Latin zodiacus, from Greek zōdiakos, meaning 'of the animals'. The Greek root zōdion means ‘little life’ and is tied to ζωδιον (zōdion), diminutive of ζῷον (zōion) ‘animal, living being.’ The plural zodiacs formed in English to denote multiple signs within the zodiac or multiple horoscopes. Early references treat the zodiac as a recognized celestial belt in classical astronomy. The word’s evolution tracks from classical astrology into modern pop usage, where ‘zodiac’ refers to the entire system and ‘zodiacs’ to the individual signs or the set as a whole within astrology, horoscopic discourse, fiction, and entertainment contexts.
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Words that rhyme with "Zodiacs"
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