2 syllables: a, chieves. Stress on chieves.
uh-CHEEVZ
/əˈtʃivz/
achieves is pronounced uh-CHEEVZ (/əˈtʃivz/). It has two syllables (a-chieves), with the stress on "chieves". Achieves meansSuccessfully brings about a desired result or goal, often through effort or skill. It denotes reaching an objective or attaining success through action, persistence, and performance. The term is commonly used for accomplishments in tasks, projects, or personal aims, and emphasizes the completion of a difficulty or challenge.
Achieves meansSuccessfully brings about a desired result or goal, often through effort or skill. It denotes reaching an objective or attaining success through action, persistence, and performance. The term is commonly used for accomplishments in tasks, projects, or personal aims, and emphasizes the completion of a difficulty or challenge.
"She achieves high grades through consistent study and dedication."
"The team achieves its targets by coordinating across departments."
"Her innovation helps the company achieve competitive performance."
Pronounce it as ə-CHĪVZ, with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPAUS: /əˈtʃiːvz/. The first syllable is a neutral schwa, the second has a long E sound /iː/ followed by /vz/. Lip rounding is light at the onset, then the tongue closes to create /tʃ/ (as in 'church'), and the final /v/ is voiced with gently closed teeth. Think: “uh- CHEEVZ.” Audio examples: try Cambridge/Dictionaries audio; YouGlish pronunciation clips can help hear real usage.
Common mistakes: 1) Misplacing stress, saying a-CHIEVES with stress on the first syllable, which sounds like 'ACH-ees' rather than natural. 2) Substituting /tʃiː/ with a plain /siː/ or /ʃiː/ leading to 'a-SHEEVZ' or 'a-CHEEVEZ'. 3) Veering toward a silent /v/ or devoicing the final /z/; ensure final is voiced /z/. Correction: keep the /tʃ/ blend intact, maintain schwa in the first syllable, and end with a voiced /z/ following /v/.
US/UK/AU all share /əˈtʃiːvz/, with the main variance in vowel quality and rhoticity. US often has a more centralized schwa before /tʃ/ and clearer /z/ at the end, UK tends toward a slightly sharper /iː/ and non-rhoticity in some contexts, while Australian may blend sounds with a lighter vowel and flatter overall intonation. The /tʃ/ and final /vz/ remain consistent; listen for subtle length in /iː/ and voicing of /z/.
The difficulty centers on the cluster /tʃiːv/ combined with final /z/. You must execute the affricate /tʃ/ accurately, sustain the long /iː/ vowel, and then transition to the voiced fricative /v/ before the final /z/. This requires precise tongue position for /tʃ/, a tight jaw for the prolonged /iː/, and clean voicing into /vz/. Mild hesitation or overemphasis on the first syllable disrupts natural rhythm.
A distinctive feature is the precise /tʃ/ onset followed by a long /iː/ before a final /vz/. The /t/ is released into the /ʃ/ component to form /tʃ/, and the vocalic duration before /vz/ gives the word its characteristic length. The final /z/ is voiced rather than voiceless, which can be mispronounced as /s/ if you’re not maintaining voicing. Focus on the transition from /tʃ/ to /iː/ and then to /vz/.
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Achieves derives from the verb achieve, which comes from the Old French achever, meaning to complete or accomplish, traced to the Vulgar Latin ad capere “to take up” or “to seize.” The form achever in early Middle French fused with Latin capere / cepere. In English, achieve appeared in the 15th century, influenced by Old French and Latin roots, initially meaning to reach a goal or complete a task. Over time, its sense broadened to include the successful execution of plans, feats, or objectives, often implying effort, skill, and perseverance. The word gained traction in academic, professional, and personal contexts as a precise label for successful outcomes, distinguishing mere attempts from realized results. The spelling stabilized into achieve with the third-person singular present achieves from the base form, mirroring typical English verb conjugation patterns. Today, it is used across disciplines, including academics, business, sports, and personal development, to describe the attainment of objectives through deliberate action and competence. Evolutionally, the word carries the sense of an active process – you not only aim but bring something to completion, reflecting the moral nuance of merit and competence in achievement.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "achieves" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "achieves"
-ves sounds
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