2 syllables: ar, rests. Stress on rests.
ur-ESTS
/ɚˈɛsts/
arrests is pronounced ur-ESTS (/ɚˈɛsts/). It has two syllables (ar-rests), with the stress on "rests". Arrests (plural noun or verb form: arrest+s) refers to the act of detaining someone by legal authority or the formal stopping or halting of movement or progress. In law, it denotes taking a person into custody; in everyday use, it can mean stopping development, activity, or momentum. The term often appears in contexts of law enforcement, court proceedings, and policy discussions, conveying a decisive interruption or restraint.
Arrests (plural noun or verb form: arrest+s) refers to the act of detaining someone by legal authority or the formal stopping or halting of movement or progress. In law, it denotes taking a person into custody; in everyday use, it can mean stopping development, activity, or momentum. The term often appears in contexts of law enforcement, court proceedings, and policy discussions, conveying a decisive interruption or restraint.
- You may say /əˈrɛsts/ but with a weak /t/ or merge the /t/ into a simple /s/. Focus on crisp /t/ before /s/ to avoid /z/ or /s/ only. - A frequent slip is misplacing the stress, pronouncing /rɛsts/ with wrong emphasis; keep the primary stress on the second syllable: /əˈrɛsts/. - Some speakers replace /ɛ/ with /æ/ or /e/; practice the mid-front vowel to stabilize the quality of /ɛ/ in the stressed syllable. - If you are non-rhotic, you might drop the /r/; rehearse with the confident /r/ before the vowel to maintain natural rhythm in connected speech.
"The police made several arrests after the protest."
"The company’s sudden arrests in production caused a halt to deliveries."
"Citizens demanded harsher penalties and more arrests for drug-related offenses."
Pronounce as a-RESTS with primary stress on the second syllable: /əˈrɛsts/. Start with a schwa syllable, then a clear /r/ followed by /ɛ/ (as in 'bet'), and end with the unvoiced /s/ sound. The final /ts/ is a crisp two-letter cluster; avoid letting it fade into a single /s/ or /t/. Audio reference: you’ll hear the stress on the middle syllable in standard speech, especially in law or news broadcasts.
Common errors include merging the /r/ with the following vowel so it sounds like /əˈrestz/ or treating it as /əˈræs.ts/ with an incorrect /æ/ vowel. Another frequent issue is not releasing the final /t/ properly, producing /əz/ or a weak /s/. Correct by practicing the /r/ clearly, using a short /e/ as in 'bet', and finishing firmly with /ts/: /əˈrɛsts/.
In US English, expect a clear /r/ and a strong /ɪ/ in unstressed syllables and a crisp /ts/ final. UK English may realize the /r/ more lightly or non-rhotic between vowels, but the final /ts/ remains. Australian speakers often have a quality vowel in the stressed /ɛ/ and may reduce the initial syllable slightly. Overall, the core is /əˈrɛsts/ with variations mainly in rhoticity and vowel length.
It combines a stressed syllable with a consonant cluster at the end: /...ts/. The /r/ must be precise to avoid sounding like /əˈɒrɛsts/ or /əˈrests/ without the s. Also, the /ɪ/ vs /ɛ/ distinction in the stressed vowel helps prevent confusion with similar words like 'arrests' vs 'arrests' (the same word differing only by context). Focus on the /r/ onset, /ɛ/ vowel quality, and the /ts/ release for clean articulation.
No silent letters here. Every letter participates in the sound: a schwa in the first syllable, /r/ onset, /ɛ/ mid vowel, /sts/ ending cluster. The tricky part is the crisp release of /t/ before /s/, ensuring the final /ts/ is audible. Practicing with a small pause between /t/ and /s/ can help if your speech tends to merge them.
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- US: clear rhotic /r/; keep the /r/ strongly articulated before the vowel. The first syllable remains unstressed with a schwa. - UK: possible non-rhoticity; ensure the /r/ is not pronounced before a non-vowel; in this word, the /r/ appears in the stressed syllable and should be lightly rolled or approximated depending on dialect. - AU: mix of rhotic tendencies; maintain the /r/ but with slightly less retroflexion; ensure /ɛ/ stays clear and avoid lengthening the vowel. All variants rely on crisp /t/ before /s/ and the /ts/ release. IPA references: /əˈrɛsts/ across dialects.
Arrests derives from the verb arrest, from Old French arrester, from Latin arrestare, from ad- ‘toward’ + restare ‘to stop, stay.’ The noun form arose mid-14th century in English, initially referring to the act of stopping or hindering, then narrowing to the legal sense of detaining a person. The root restare shifted semantically in legal contexts as authorities paused individuals for examination or punishment. Over time, the term expanded to cover formal processes of custody and restraint, including police actions and court orders. In modern usage, arrests are framed within systems of due process and civil rights, and the word frequently collocates with law enforcement, charges, warrants, and rights advisement. First known uses appear in Middle English legal writings, with documentation of arrest-related language in early 14th century law Latin phrases later integrated into English, reflecting evolving conceptions of state power, sovereignty, and individual liberty.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "arrests" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "arrests"
-sts sounds
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