3 syllables: ad, van, ces. Stress on van.
uhd-VAN-suhz
/əˈdvænsəz/
advances is pronounced uhd-VAN-suhz (/əˈdvænsəz/). It has three syllables (ad-van-ces), with the stress on "van". Advances refers to moves forward or improvements, or actions taken in progression, often used to describe steps toward a goal or developments in a situation. It can also function as a verb form meaning to move forward or to provide assistance or progress. The word conveys forward motion or progress, typically in formal or technical contexts.
Advances refers to moves forward or improvements, or actions taken in progression, often used to describe steps toward a goal or developments in a situation. It can also function as a verb form meaning to move forward or to provide assistance or progress. The word conveys forward motion or progress, typically in formal or technical contexts.
- You might flatten the first syllable to /ə/ in informal speech; aim for a clear /æ/ in the stressed syllable to preserve contrast with /d/ and /v/. - Mispronouncing /v/ as /f/ or /b/ reduces accuracy; practice with minimal pairs like 'advances' vs 'advances' (same word but slow vs fast). - The final /z/ can be devoiced; practice with a very light voicing or a crisp sibilant to match the word's common pronunciation. - Use phrase rehearsal to ensure the /æ/ doesn't become /ɛ/ in connected speech; emphasize the second syllable's /væns/ rather than /vænsɪz/ if context requires.
"Her research advances the field of renewable energy."
"The company advances to the final round of the competition."
"Strategic investments advance economic growth over time."
Phonetic pronunciation: US /əd-ˈvæns-ɪz/ or /ˈæd-vən-sɪz/? In careful speech, the noun is /ˈæd.væns.ɪz/ and the verb-related form often resembles /-ˈvæns.ɪz/. Primary stress lands on the first syllable of the base 'advance' in both noun and verb forms: ADV-ances. Mouth positions: start with a light schwa for the first unstressed syllable in some connected speech; the main vowel is a low-front /æ/ or a reduced /ə/ depending on pace. Final cluster /-sɪz/ or /-z/ adds a voiced z-sibilant; tension on the /æ/ helps opener. Audio reference: you can compare with Cambridge/Pronounce resources for the exact audio examples.
Common errors: (1) Skipping the /æ/ vowel and reducing to /ə/ or /ɪ/ in ADV-ances; (2) Misplacing stress by saying /əd-ˈvæns/ or /ˈəd-vən-siz/; (3) Slurring the final /z/ into an /s/ or an after-/s/ sound in rapid speech. Correction tips: keep the first stressed syllable clearly /æ/ or /æd/ depending on speaker, enunciate the /æ/ in the second syllable as a short but distinct sound, and finish with a crisp /-z/ or /-ɪz/ depending on dialect. Record yourself and compare to authoritative pronunciations to enforce the difference.
In US English, the noun ADV-ances tends to have strong first-syllable stress with a clear /æ/ vowel; final /ɪz/ or /əz/ is common in rapid speech. In UK English, the /æ/ remains prominent, but the final syllable often features a subtle /z/ with less voice onset time, giving a crisper /ɪz/ in nouns and /-ɪz/ in verbs. Australian English follows similar US/UK patterns, with a slightly broader vowel in /æ/ and a lighter, less palatal /v/ before the /æ/. Across accents, rhotacization is limited (not rhotic in non-rhotic UK varieties), but in American speech, the /æ/ may be more open and the /æ/ in adjacent syllables can be slightly retracted.
The difficulty centers on the two-syllable onset with a stressed first syllable and a final cluster /-nsɪz/ that can blur in fast speech. The sequence of /æ/ followed by /d/ and /v/ can tempt alveolar-tap or approximants; the /v/ and /n/ adjacent require precise place articulation. Additionally, the final /z/ can be devoiced in some dialects, making it seem like /-s/. Mastery comes from practicing distinct vowel quality in the first syllable and crisp articulation of the /d/ and /v/ before the /ən/ or /æns/ portion.
Does the -es form here behave as a plural noun or third-person verb in pronunciation? Answer: Both form the same pronunciation largely; the final -es produces /-ɪz/ or /-z/ depending on preceding consonant. Because 'advances' is the plural or third-person singular of 'advance' in present tense, the pronunciation stays consistent with stress on the first syllable depending on lexical category; the final phoneme is /-ɪz/ in careful enunciation and /-z/ when voiceless in hurried speech.
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- US: primary stress on ADV; distinct /æ/ in first vowel; final /ɪz/ or /əz/ with slight devoicing in fast speech. - UK: similar but with less rhoticity influence, final /z/ often longer; /æ/ can be a bit closer to /a/. - AU: /æ/ slightly broader, final /ɪz/ clearer; intonation may be slightly higher for emphasis. - In all, keep the /æ/ crisp and the /d/ and /v/ distinct, avoid blending into a single syllable.
Advances comes from the verb advance, which traces to the Old French avancer (to move forward, come closer, to lend forward). The root is Vulgar Latin advenire ‘to come toward, approach,’ from ad- ‘toward’ + venire ‘to come.’ By the 14th century, advance appeared in English with noun and verb senses related to forward movement, improvement, or action in military, financial, or social contexts. Over time, the word expanded to cover noun phrases (cost advances, salary advances) and figurative uses (advances in science). The noun form often carries a formal or technical tone, especially in business, military, and policy discourse. The pronunciation, stress pattern, and pluralization have remained stable, though usage has broadened from strictly physical forward movement to strategic or developmental connotations. First known use in English is attested in Middle English, influenced by Old French, with the semantic drift toward progress and promotion evident in the Renaissance and modern technical vocabularies.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "advances" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "advances"
-ces sounds
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