Allowances refers to sums of money or extra allowances given or permitted, such as discretionary funds or concessions. The term can also describe allowances in a budgeting or payroll context. It implies a concessional provision or tolerance granted within a set framework, often in relation to expenses, quotas, or benefits.
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US: /əˈlaʊ.ən.sɪz/, r-controlled vowels are less strong; ensure the /ˈlaʊ/ is prominent and the /ən/ is brief. UK: /əˈlaʊ.ən.sɪz/ with a slightly softer /ɒ/ onset in some speakers; UK speakers often maintain precise non-rhoticity in careful speech. AU: /əˈlaʊ.ən.sɪz/ with a tendency to a slightly longer /ə/ in the first syllable in careful style; more vowel length variation influenced by prosody. General tip: keep the diphthong /aʊ/ stable, the middle /ən/ light, and finish with a clear /sɪz/; practice linking to the next word.
"The company provides allowances for travel and meals."
"Workers receive housing allowances as part of their compensation package."
"The school offers allowances for special educational needs."
"Government budgets include allowances for unforeseen expenses."
Allowance derives from the Late Middle English allowance, from Old French alouance, from alouer meaning to grant or allow, from Latin alōcare (to feed, nourish) via Latin alō- (nourish). The sense evolved from the act of permitting or granting something, to include financial concessions or sums allotted for a purpose. In legal and administrative language, allowance took on the meaning of a fixed amount permitted or authorized, such as travel allowance or tax allowance. The semantic path tracks from general permission to specific monetary allocations within budgets, payrolls, and social benefits. The word entered Middle English with forms like 'allowaunce' and 'allowance' as borrowings from French, then narrowed to denote recognized sums, subsidies, or exemptions in formal contexts. The plural form allowances expanded usage to multiple categories of monetary concessions, while retaining the core notion of permission plus value. The first known uses appear in medieval administrative records where rulers or estates granted allowances for expenses or provisions, gradually becoming standard in fiscal documents by the 16th century. The term now spans everyday personal budgeting to corporate compensation schemes and governmental policy.
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Words that rhyme with "allowances"
-ins sounds
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Pronounce as /əˈlaʊ.ən.sɪz/ in US English, with primary stress on the second syllable: uh-LAUN-uh-zɪz. Start with a schwa in the first syllable, then a clear diphthong /aʊ/ as in 'how', followed by a light /ən/ for the third syllable and a final /sɪz/ or /zɪz/. In casual speech, you may hear /əˈlaʊn.sɪz/ with a slightly reduced middle syllable. Practice: break it into syllables: a-LOU-ən-ses, then blend. Audio reference: consult Cambridge/Oxford online dictionaries for native pronunciations and listen to examples by speakers.
Common errors include misplacing stress on the first syllable (a-LOU-; you want the stress on the second) and mispronouncing the /laʊ/ as /laʊə/ or /ləʊ/; keep it /laʊ/. Another frequent issue is pronouncing the final /s/ as /z/ without voicing consistently. Correction tips: practice the middle /ə/ as a quick schwa, ensure the /laʊ/ is a tight diphthong, and finish with a crisp /z/ sound for the plural when following a voiced consonant. Use minimal pairs like 'allow' vs 'allows' to feel the plural ending.
US: /əˈlaʊ.ən.sɪz/, non-rhoticity is less pronounced but rhotics may appear in some speakers; the /r/ is not present after a vowel except in rhotic speakers. UK: /əˈlaʊ.ən.sɪz/ with non-rhotic r, generally similar vowel quality but subtle differences in /ə/ and /ɪ/ in fast speech. AU: /əˈlaʊ.ən.sɪz/ similar to UK but with broader vowels and more prominent /ɪ/ reduction in everyday speech. Across all, the primary stress remains on the second syllable, but vowel length and quality can shift with rhythm and pace.
A unique feature is the subtle reduction of the middle syllable: the /ən/ often becomes a quick schwa, making the pronunciation feel like /ə-ˈlaʊn-sɪz/ in rapid speech. The /ə/ in the first syllable can be reduced further depending on speech rate. Also, the final -ces blends into /sɪz/ quickly; keeping the /ɪz/ or /z/ sound distinct prevents the plural ending from muting. Focus on maintaining a crisp /laʊ/ diphthong and a clear /sɪz/ final cluster.
Because it combines a strong diphthong /aʊ/ with a two-syllable middle cluster /ən/ and a plural ending /sɪz/. The sequence a-LAUN-ən-ses demands precise stress timing: the secondary unstressed syllables compress quickly, while the primary stress sits on /laʊ/. Additionally, the transition from /laʊ/ to /ən/ requires tongue relaxing and a short, neutral vowel. Practicing with slow, careful enunciation helps build muscle memory for the glide and the final sibilant.
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