How to pronounce "gentles" in English
ˈdʒɛntəlz
JEN·təlz
Primary stress: JEN
Hear native speakers say gentles in context across real video clips
Linguistic Pronunciation Masterclass: “gentles”
Phonetic mechanics, syllable architecture, and conversational cadence
Syllable Architecture & Stress Distribution
JEN
Elevated pitch, sustained vowel length, and full acoustic clarity.
təlz
Neutral schwa (⁄ə⁄): relaxed jaw, brief unstressed breath.
Primary emphasis falls on the first syllable ("JEN"). Raise your pitch and sustain the vowel length on this syllable while relaxing the surrounding syllables.
Common Pronunciation Traps & Learner Mistakes
The Trap: Avoid pronouncing every vowel with full acoustic weight. Non-native speakers often over-enunciate unstressed vowels.
How Native Speakers Say It: Only give full vowel clarity to the primary stressed syllable. Relax all unstressed vowels into a neutral, low-energy schwa (⁄ə⁄).
Connected Speech & Natural Conversational Flow
When "gentles" is followed by a word starting with a vowel, glide the final consonant into the opening vowel (e.g. "gentles is" sounds like "gentles-iz").
In natural sentences, avoid over-stressing "gentles" unless it conveys the core contrast or focal point of your message.
Authentic Spoken Quotes from Native Video Context
“Well, the polis straightens out crooked judgments, gentles the swollen ambitions and puts an end to”— YaleCoursesWatch clip
“So a fig leaf for the gentles and but not for the”— MIT OpenCourseWareWatch clip
“remembering your zest for hilltops and the sturdy surf of your laughter gentles my grief at your going and tempers the thought of my own”— StanfordWatch clip
“So, pardon, gentles all, and until next time.”— Native SpeakerWatch clip
“So, gentles and ladymen, I present to you the Palmer House brownie.”— Native SpeakerWatch clip
“highs, diminishes my depressions, gentles me out, keeps me from ruining my career and relationships, keeps me out of a hospital, and alive."”— Native SpeakerWatch clip
Practice Speaking “gentles”
Listen to native pronunciation, record yourself repeating the sentence into your microphone, and receive real-time word-by-word accuracy scoring.
Well, the polis straightens out crooked judgments, gentles the swollen ambitions and puts an end to
Hear it in context: “gentles”
6 clipsThe English word “gentles” is transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as ˈdʒɛntəlz (phonetic respelling: JEN-təlz). Phonologically, it consists of 2 syllables (JEN · təlz), with primary lexical stress placed on the 1st (initial) syllable (JEN). Grammatically, “gentles” functions as a adjective, verb, noun and acts as an English heteronym where syllable stress shifts between noun (initial-syllable stress) and verb (second-syllable stress) usage. SayItVid indexes 6 authentic English video clips demonstrating how native speakers articulate “gentles” in natural connected speech across American (US: 6 sampled), British (UK), and Australian (AUS) accents, including verified broadcasts from YaleCourses, MIT OpenCourseWare, Stanford.
Spoken Video Transcripts & Contextual Quotes (5 Verified Clips)
- 🇺🇸 USYaleCoursesClip #1 · @17:47
“judgments that Hesiod complained about. Well, the polis straightens out crooked judgments, gentles the swollen ambitions and puts an end to judgments, gentles the swollen ambitions and puts an end to”
- 🇺🇸 USMIT OpenCourseWareClip #2 · @8:52
“because that was demanded by the customs of that period, by what was considered decent and indecent. So a fig leaf for the gentles and but not for the breasts of Eve. And”
- 🇺🇸 USStanfordClip #3 · @81:06
“cards dear eva whenever the wind is from the sea salty and strong you are here remembering your zest for hilltops and the sturdy surf of your laughter gentles my grief at your going and tempers the thought of my own gentles my grief at your going and tempers the thought of my own”
- 🇺🇸 USClip #4 · @10:39
“it was necessary he should be stopped, but there was ever more in him to be praised than to be pardoned. So, pardon, gentles all, and until next time. Curtain. Crash Course Theater is produced in”
- 🇺🇸 USClip #5 · @40:32
“but one of the finest brownies around. So, gentles and ladymen, I present to you the Palmer House brownie. brownie.”
Definition & Meaning: “gentles”
- Tender and amiable; of a considerate or kindly disposition.
- Soft and mild rather than hard or severe.
- To become gentle.
- To ennoble.
- A person of high birth.
- A maggot used as bait by anglers.
Example Sentences (3)
- “Stuart is a gentle man; he would never hurt you.”
- “I felt something touch my shoulder; it was gentle and a little slimy.”
- “Well, the polis straightens out crooked judgments, gentles the swollen ambitions and puts an end to”
Common Phrases & Collocations
Pronounce: “gentles”
- Pronunciation:
- JEN-təlz
- Syllables:
- JEN · təlz
- Written Hyphenation:
- gen · tles
- Primary stress:
- JEN
- IPA:
- ˈdʒɛntəlz
- Hear it in context
- gentles
Words that Rhyme with “gentles”
-ɛntəlzWords that Sound Identical (Homophones)
Unique Sound"gentles" (⁄ˈdʒɛntəlz⁄) has no true homophones in standard English — there are no other words with identical pronunciation. Unlike sound-alike pairs like there / their or peace / piece, "gentles" has a completely distinct phonetic identity.
Frequently asked questions about gentles
How do you pronounce “gentles”?
“gentles” is pronounced ⁄ˈdʒɛntəlz⁄ (JEN-təlz). Listen to the native-speaker clips above to hear it in real conversation.
How many syllables are in “gentles”?
“gentles” has 2 syllables: JEN · təlz.
Where is the stress in “gentles”?
The primary stress in “gentles” is on “JEN”. Listen for that stressed syllable in the clips above.
What does “gentles” mean?
Tender and amiable; of a considerate or kindly disposition.
How can I hear “gentles” used in real sentences?
This page has 6 real-world video examples of “gentles” with synchronized subtitles. Use Previous / Next (or ← / → keys) to hear each one at the exact moment it is spoken.
What is the most common pronunciation mistake when saying “gentles”?
Avoid pronouncing every vowel with full acoustic weight. Non-native speakers often over-enunciate unstressed vowels. Only give full vowel clarity to the primary stressed syllable. Relax all unstressed vowels into a neutral, low-energy schwa (⁄ə⁄).