2 syllables: a, mounts. Stress on mounts.
uh-MOWNTS
/əˈmaʊnts/
amounts is pronounced uh-MOWNTS (/əˈmaʊnts/). It has two syllables (a-mounts), with the stress on "mounts". Amounts is a plural noun or verb form referring to quantities or sums. In nouns, it denotes total quantities; as a verb, it means to total or add up to reach a certain figure. Clear understanding of context is key to correct usage and pronunciation, especially distinguishing plural noun forms from singular verb forms in connected speech.
Amounts is a plural noun or verb form referring to quantities or sums. In nouns, it denotes total quantities; as a verb, it means to total or add up to reach a certain figure. Clear understanding of context is key to correct usage and pronunciation, especially distinguishing plural noun forms from singular verb forms in connected speech.
- You might insert an extra syllable or misplace the primary stress, turning /əˈmaʊnts/ into /æˈmaʊnts/ or /əˈmaʊnɪts/. Keep the stress on the second syllable and ensure smooth /maʊnts/ without breaking it into separate parts. - The /aʊ/ diphthong is easy to flatten to a simple /a/ or /ɔː/ in fast speech. Practice maintaining the diphthong as /aʊ/ with a clear glide into /nts/. - The final /nts/ cluster can be reduced or blurred; ensure you clearly articulate the /n/ then /ts/; avoid pronouncing /t/ with extra aspiration or turning it into /d/.
"- The store received large amounts of rain damage to the goods."
"- We didn’t get enough amounts of data to make a decision."
"- The bills amount to more than we can pay."
Pronounce it as /əˈmaʊnts/ in most dialects. The first syllable is a schwa, unstressed, followed by a strong primary stress on the second syllable: /maʊnts/. The /maʊnt/ part uses the /aʊ/ diphthong as in 'count' or 'house', ending with a clear /nts/ cluster. In careful speech, articulate the /t/ before the /s/; in rapid speech, the /t/ can be lightly released or dropped, leading to /məˈaʊnts/ or /əˈmaʊnts/ dropping the syllable boundary slightly. Audio reference: think of the rhyme with ‘counts’ and ‘mounts’.
Common errors include misplacing the stress, saying a- MOUNTS or a- MOUNTS with extra syllables, and mispronouncing the /aʊ/ as a short /a/ or /ɔː/ in non-native speech. Another frequent mistake is pronouncing the ending as -ed or strongly pronouncing the final /ts/ as separate sounds in rapid speech. Correction: keep thestress on the second syllable, render /aʊ/ as the strong diphthong in 'house', and blend the final /t/ and /s/ as a quick /nts/ cluster. Practice with minimal pairs like “amounts” vs “mounts” to stabilize the /æ/ vs /aʊ/ difference.
In US, UK, and AU, the core /əˈmaʊnts/ pattern remains, with small vowel quality shifts. US vowels tend to be slightly more rhotic and the /ɹ/ sound is not relevant here, but in connected speech, the /ə/ can be more centralized. UK pronunciation often features crisper syllable timing and a slightly tenser /aʊ/; AU tends to be similar to UK but with more vowel reduction in rapid speech. The rhoticity difference is less relevant for this word, but the surrounding vowel and intonation may differ: US often flattens the intonation; UK/AU may present a more marked final rise or fall depending on sentence type.
The difficulty lies in the two-consonant cluster /nts/ at the end, which can be challenging in connected speech, especially when followed by a word starting with a consonant. The /aʊ/ diphthong also requires careful articulation to avoid a lax /ɒ/ or /ə/ sound. Additionally, maintaining the second-syllable stress without altering the first syllable requires precise timing in rapid speech. Focus on the transition from /maʊ/ to /nts/ and keep the stress on the second syllable for clarity.
A unique aspect is the subtle linking and fluency of the second syllable’s nucleus in fast speech. The /maʊnts/ portion should remain tight, with a quick but audible /n/ before the /ts/. People sometimes insert an extra vowel between /ma/ and /nts/; avoid this by guiding air and jaw closure to deliver clean onset for /nts/. Also, avoid reducing the second syllable’s vowel below schwa quality; keep it clearly stressed.
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- US: Slightly more relaxed final consonant cluster; keep /əˈmaʊnts/ with a crisp /nts/. IPA: /əˈmaʊnts/. - UK: Clearer /aʊ/ and more precise /nts/; you may hear a crisper consonant release; IPA: /əˈmaʊnts/. - AU: Similar to UK; may reduce syllable length in rapid sentences; IPA: /əˈmaʊnts/. Emphasize non-rhotic tendencies in rapid speech; avoid over-articulating the /r/.
Amount derives from Middle English amounten, from Old French amunter, from Latin admungere, meaning to weigh against or to amount to. The transition from “amuunt” appearing in financial accounting to modern English reflects a fusion of the sense of measurement and total. In English, amount originally signified the monetary or weight-related total of something, emphasizing quantity rather than discrete units. Over time, the word broadened to include abstract quantities and, in verb form, the sense of reaching or totaling. First recorded use as a verb is in the 14th century, evolving to a more general noun meaning in the 15th century. The spelling stabilized in Early Modern English, aligning with other forms like amount (to), amounting, amountable, etc. The pronunciation shift includes a schwa-like reduction in connected speech, especially in slower or careful speech, but the primary stress remains on the first syllable: /əˈmaʊnts/ in standard varieties.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "amounts" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "amounts"
-nts sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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