2 syllables: air, ways. Stress on air.
ER-wayz
/ˈɛˌɹweɪz/
airways is pronounced ER-wayz (/ˈɛˌɹweɪz/). It has two syllables (air-ways), with the stress on "air". Airways refers to the passages for air in the respiratory system, or to commercial flight routes of airlines managed by aviation authorities. In plural form, it can denote multiple routes or air passages, or routes used by airlines. The term is common in medical, aviation, and logistical contexts, and can function as a noun referring to anatomy or an industry network of flight corridors.
Airways refers to the passages for air in the respiratory system, or to commercial flight routes of airlines managed by aviation authorities. In plural form, it can denote multiple routes or air passages, or routes used by airlines. The term is common in medical, aviation, and logistical contexts, and can function as a noun referring to anatomy or an industry network of flight corridors.
"The patient was stabilized as the airways remained clear during the procedure."
"Airways are programmed into the flight plan to optimize fuel efficiency."
"Emergency crews ensured the patient’s airways stayed open with proper airway management."
Airways is pronounced as /ˈerˌweɪz/ in US and /ˈeəˌweɪz/ in UK and AU accents. The primary stress sits on the first syllable: AIR-ways. The first syllable rhymes with 'air' and uses a mid-to-open diphthong /ɛr/ or /eə/ depending on the accent, followed by /weɪz/, where /w/ is a semivowel onset and /eɪ/ is the long a vowel as in 'play'. Ensure clear separation between the两 syllables but with a smooth glide into /weɪz/.
Common errors include treating the word as one smooth unit without stress on the first syllable, or mispronouncing the second syllable as /ɪz/ instead of /weɪz/. Some learners flatten the diphthong /eɪ/ to a simple /e/; others might misplace /r/ in non-rhotic accents, producing /ˈeɪ.wəz/ too weakly. Correction: accent the first syllable with /ˈer/ or /ˈeə/ and clearly articulate /weɪz/, ensuring the /w/ onset and /eɪ/ glide are audible, then finish with /z/. Practice connecting the two syllables with a light, continuous air flow.
In US, /ˈerˌweɪz/ with rhotic r in the first syllable; in UK, /ˈeəˌweɪz/ may reduce the r and emphasize /eə/ more; in Australian, /ˈeəˌweɪz/ with a more centralized vowel in the first syllable and a stronger /z/ at the end. Differences lie in rhoticity and vowel quality: US keeps a strong rhotic /ɹ/; UK often non-rhotic leading to /ˈeə/; AU blends, with subtle vowel merging and final /z/ kept. IPA references: US /ˈɚˌweɪz/ or /ˈerˌweɪz/, UK /ˈeəˌweɪz/, AU /ˈeəˌweɪz/.
The difficulty comes from the two tricky phonetic features: the initial rhotacized vowel in stressed syllable or non-rhotacization depending on accent, and the diphthong in the second syllable /weɪ/ that blends /w/ with /eɪ/. Learners often misplace the tongue for the /r/ or /ɹ/ in non-rhotic dialects, or mispronounce the /ɪz/ ending. The key is to ensure the first syllable keeps the vowel quality close to 'air' and that /weɪz/ flows smoothly into a final /z/, with appropriate voicing.
Airways combines a strong vowel nucleus in the first syllable and a high-energy glide in the second syllable. The contrast between /ɹ/ (or /ə/ in non-rhotic accents) and the /weɪ/ diphthong is the defining feature. Focus on starting with a clear vowel, move into /r/ or its soft equivalent as you proceed to the /w/ onset, then glide into /eɪ/ and finish with /z/. The word's plural airways also invites a slightly extended /z/ due to plural voicing.
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Airways derives from air, from Old English æġe (air) combined with way, from Old English weg/an Old Norse vega for path or route, ultimately forming phrases describing channels for air or routes for travel. The concept of 'air' as a breathable medium fused with 'ways' (paths) in Middle English to denote channels or routes became specialized in medicine (airways) and aviation (flight airways, air routes) during the industrial and scientific revolutions. The plural form airways emerged to describe multiple channels or routes beyond a single anatomical airway, as both physiology and airline logistics grew more complex. Early medical texts referred to tracheal or bronchial passages as airways; later aviation contexts adopted the term to denote national and international routing structures. First known uses appear in 19th-century medical literature and late 19th to early 20th-century aviation documentation as air travel expanded. Over time, airways has solidified as a standard term in both anatomy and air transportation with the primary sense in different registers: anatomical airways and the network of flight routes.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "airways" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "airways" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "airways"
-ers sounds
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