uh-NOWN-siz
/əˈnaʊnsɪz/
announces is pronounced uh-NOWN-siz (/əˈnaʊnsɪz/). Announces is a third-person singular present tense verb meaning to publicly declare or reveal something. In everyday use, it often introduces important information or decisions. The form blends a stressed first syllable with an unstressed final syllable, and the vowel quality subtly shifts depending on the surrounding phonemes and accent. Overall, it conveys formality plus confidence.
Announces is a third-person singular present tense verb meaning to publicly declare or reveal something. In everyday use, it often introduces important information or decisions. The form blends a stressed first syllable with an unstressed final syllable, and the vowel quality subtly shifts depending on the surrounding phonemes and accent. Overall, it conveys formality plus confidence.
"The company announces a new product line next week."
"She announces her engagement at the party with a bright smile."
"The spokesperson announces the policy change during the briefing."
Pronounce as ə-NOUN-sɪz in US/UK/AU. The primary stress is on the second syllable, with a reduced initial schwa. The middle contains the /aʊ/ diphthong as in 'how' or 'now,' followed by a soft /n/ and the final /ɪz/ or /ɪz/ depending on pace. In careful speech, you’ll articulate each segment: /ə/ (reduced), /ˈnaʊn/ (nounce as in announce’s root with a stressed vowel), + /sɪz/ or /z/. In rapid speech, the sequence compresses but remains recognizable as ə-NAUN-siz. Audio reference: refer to Cambridge/Oxford pronunciations and Forvo listings for native speaker variants.
Two common errors are over-adding a /t/ or /d/ sound in the middle (ann-ounces) and misplacing the primary stress on the first syllable (AN-nounces). Correct by keeping the /nau/ cluster intact and stressing the /naʊn/ portion. Another error is pronouncing /z/ as /s/ in rapid speech; ensure you voice the final /z/ as /z/ when following a voiced vowel or consonant cluster. Practically, practice with minimal pairs (announce vs announces) to feel the difference in stress and final consonant voicing.
In US and UK, the primary stress remains on the second syllable, but vowel quality shifts: US often has a slightly more centralized /aʊ/ and a clear /z/ ending; UK may exhibit a slightly tenser /aʊ/ and less vowel reduction in connected speech. Australian English is often more centralized in the diphthong and can exhibit broader spacing in syllable timing; final /z/ remains voiced. Overall, rhoticity affects surrounding vowels in US accents, but the word's core remains stable.
Because it blends a diphthong /aʊ/ with a two-syllable rhythm and a voiced final /z/ in rapid speech. The middle consonant cluster /n/ attaches to the diphthong, and English vowel reduction influences the initial /ə/ as unstressed. For non-native speakers, the challenge is maintaining accurate /aʊ/ length within a stressed syllable while ensuring the final /z/ is voiced and not devoiced in unvoiced contexts.
A distinctive feature is maintaining the syllable boundary while compressing the word in fast speech: ə-NOUN-siz becomes a fluid unit where /ˈnaʊn/ remains prominent, yet the trailing /sɪz/ can detach slightly in rapid delivery. This requires precise control of voicing: the /z/ should stay voiced and not weaken into a whisper. Listen for the clear /n/ that binds the diphthong to the final syllable and avoid turning /naʊn/ into /naən/.
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Announces derives from the verb announce, which originates from the Old French anoncer/anoncer, from Latin annunciare (to proclaim, announce), from annuntiare (to report, proclaim), from annus (year) with nuntiare (to announce). In Middle English, the form evolved with the addition of -es to create the third-person singular present -s ending in regular verbs, indicating ongoing or habitual action. The semantic core—making something known publicly—dates from the 14th–15th centuries as administrations and clerks began routine proclamations; by the 16th century, legal and civic uses commonized “announces” as official statements. The phonetic shape shifted little; the stem announce retained the unstressed second syllable, while the final -ces/ -ces variant aligns with general English inflection. Modern usage retains the sense of formal disclosure, from corporate press briefings to personal declarations. The term is now ubiquitous across media, politics, and business, often signaling a controlled, prepared statement rather than spontaneous revelation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "announces" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "announces"
-ces sounds
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