3 syllables: ap, pe, tites. Stress on ap.
AP-uh-teyets
/ˈæpəˌtaɪts/
appetites is pronounced AP-uh-teyets (/ˈæpəˌtaɪts/). It has three syllables (ap-pe-tites), with the stress on "ap". Appetites refers to strong desires or cravings, especially for food or gratification. It can also denote a tendency to take pleasure in or seek certain experiences. The term emphasizes the physiological drive or voluntary pursuit of appetitive targets, inclusive of plural contexts such as bodily hunger or figurative passions.
Appetites refers to strong desires or cravings, especially for food or gratification. It can also denote a tendency to take pleasure in or seek certain experiences. The term emphasizes the physiological drive or voluntary pursuit of appetitive targets, inclusive of plural contexts such as bodily hunger or figurative passions.
"Her appetites for spicy food grew after traveling through Southeast Asia."
"The company’s appetites for market share led to aggressive expansion."
"After the workout, his appetites returned, and he enjoyed a hearty meal."
Pronounce as /ˈæp.ɪˌtaɪts/. The primary stress is on the first syllable: AP-i-tites; the second syllable features a light schwa-like reduce: /ɪ/. The final syllable contains /taɪts/ with a long /aɪ/ as in 'sites'. Ensure the 'pp' is a single, quick stop, not a double t.
Common errors: mixing up the /æ/ and /ə/ in the first syllable (sounding like ‘appear-it-ites’), and flattening the /aɪ/ to a short /i/ so it sounds like 'ap-uh-tits'. Correction: keep /æ/ in the first syllable, reduce to a light /ɪ/ in the second, and clearly articulate /aɪ/ in the final syllable. Emphasize the steady /t/ before the final /aɪts/.
US: /ˈæp.ɪˌtaɪts/, rhotic and with clear /r/? No /r/ in this word. UK: /ˈæp.ɪˌtaɪts/ similar; AU: /ˈæp.ɪˌtaɪts/, often with slightly stronger vowel reduction in unstressed syllables. All share the same phonemes here, but speaker tempo and vowel length can vary.
Because it combines a stressed first syllable with a triplet of sounds /æ/ - /ɪ/ - /taɪts/, and an onset cluster ‘pp’ releasing into /p/ without doubling. The /ɪ/ in the second syllable is short and quick, followed by the diphthong /aɪ/ in the third, which can blur in rapid speech. The word’s length and reduced vowels require precise timing.
The 'pp' is a single stop [p], not a double consonant. It should be a brief occlusion as you transition from /æ/ to /ɪ/. Avoid lengthening the /p/ or turning it into a geminated sound. Keep the release crisp, then immediately move into /ɪ/.
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US: emphasize rhotic-less tendencies? Actually US accents are rhotic; focus on clear /r/ only when followed by vowels in surrounding words; for appetites, the r is not present. UK/AU: similar vowel in first syllable; practice non-rhotic contexts around other words; ensure final /aɪts/ remains bright. Vowel specifics: US tends to a slightly lower /æ/ and /ɪ/ shorter; UK and AU often more clipped /ɪ/ but comparable; IPA: /ˈæp.ɪˌtaɪts/.
Appetites derives from the Latin appetitus, the past participle of appetere meaning 'to seek after' or 'to desire.' This root combines ad- 'toward' with petere 'to seek, seek after'. The Old French appétit then entered Middle English through Anglo-Norman, keeping the sense of appetite or desire. By the 14th century, appetite referred to strong desire, especially for food, with broader figurative senses developing in the Renaissance as explorations of human motivation increased. The plural form appetites exists to reflect multiple instances or varieties of desire (for food, experiences, or action). The term often appears in literature and philosophy to discuss appetitive nature versus reason or virtue, and in modern usage it frequently references cravings that drive behavior in eating, consumerism, and hedonistic pursuits.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "appetites" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "appetites"
-tes sounds
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