4 syllables: a, tro, ci, ties. Stress on tro.
uh-TRAH-suh-teez
/əˈtɹɑsətiz/
atrocities is pronounced uh-TRAH-suh-teez (/əˈtɹɑsətiz/). It has four syllables (a-tro-ci-ties), with the stress on "tro". Atrocities are extremely cruel or brutal acts, typically involving violence or cruelty against people. The term connotes grave moral wrongs or horrifying events, often tied to wars, regimes, or crimes against humanity. It emphasizes magnitude and moral outrage rather than ordinary misconduct.
Atrocities are extremely cruel or brutal acts, typically involving violence or cruelty against people. The term connotes grave moral wrongs or horrifying events, often tied to wars, regimes, or crimes against humanity. It emphasizes magnitude and moral outrage rather than ordinary misconduct.
- You may flatten the second syllable or overemphasize the first; keep the stress on the second syllable (/ˈtrɒs/). - The /ɒ/ in /trɒ/ can drift toward /ɔː/ or /ɒ/; aim for a shorter, more open /ɒ/ with a crisp /tɪz/. - Final /iz/ can sound like /iːz/ if spoken slowly; keep it as /ɪz/ with a brief release. - In rapid speech, the sequence /trɒsɪtiz/ can merge; practice slowing down to preserve syllable boundaries. - Avoid sounding like 'atro-pities' (shoehorned /pɪ/); correct is /trɒsɪtiz/.
"The reports detailed the atrocities committed during the conflict."
"Many survivors testified about the atrocities they endured."
"The international tribunal investigates allegations of atrocities against civilians."
Pronounce as /əˈtrɒsɪtiz/ (uh-TROS-i-tiz). The primary stress is on the second syllable. Tip: keep the /ɑ/ in /trɒ/ open and short, then syllabify as a-troc-i-ties to maintain even rhythm. In slow speech say: uh-TRO-si-tiz; in quick speech, the vowel in the first syllable can reduce to a schwa. Audio reference: consult Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries’ pronunciation audio; you’ll hear the same stress pattern with crisp final /tiz/.
Common mistakes: misplacing stress (putting it on the first or third syllable), mispronouncing the /ɒ/ as /æ/ or /ɑː/, and softening the final -ties to -se or -z. Correction: ensure the secondary syllables are reduced and the primary stress sits on the second syllable: /əˈtrɒsɪtiz/. Practice with minimal pairs: TRO-sis vs TRO-si-tiz; hold the /ɒ/ quality in /trɒ/ and keep /tiz/ as /tiz/ rather than /tiːz/.
US: rhotic, /əˈtrɑːsɪtiz/ with a full rhotic /ɹ/ in some speakers; UK: non-rhotic or lightly rhotic, /əˈtrɒsɪtɪz/; AU: similar to UK but with a broader vowel in /ɒ/ and a flatter /ɪ/; the final -ies is often /ɪz/ everywhere, though some speakers may voice it as /iːz/. Focus on maintaining the /ɒ/ in the stressed syllable and crisp /t/ before /ɪ/.
Difficulties come from the cluster /trɒs/ combining a dark, rounded /ɒ/ with a tense /s/ before the /t/ and the unstressed // -ɪ/ in the middle. The /t/ before a sibilant plus a final /iz/ can blur in rapid speech. Also the plural suffix /-iz/ can compress. Practice distinguishing /ˈtrɒs/ from /ˈtrɒsi/ and keep the final /tiz/ as a separate syllable rather than a long glide.
The unique aspect is the delicate balance between the strong /ɒ/ in the stressed syllable and the following /sɪ/ leading into the /tɪz/ ending. You want crisp /trɒs/ before the /ɪtɪz/ sequence without adding extra vowel length to the middle syllable. Also, maintain the plural suffix /-iz/ as a light, cleft ending rather than an drawn-out /-iːz/.
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- US: rhotic, smoother /ɹ/ sequences may soften; keep /ə/ in first syllable and stress on 2nd. - UK: non-rhotic or lightly rhotic; ensure non-rhoticity doesn’t affect /trɒs/; maintain /ɒ/ quality in stressed syllable. - AU: broader vowel in /ɒ/ and a slightly flatter /ɪ/; keep final /ɪz/ clear; avoid converting to /iːz/.
Atrocities comes from the French atrocité (genitive atrocité), from Latin atrox (cruel, fierce) with -tósus suffix. The modern English form emerged in the 17th century via French influence, sharpened in the 18th and 19th centuries as global visibility of mass violence rose. The core sense—extreme cruelty, brutal acts—developed from moral judgment attached to violent wrongdoing. Early use often described egregious acts in war or lawless contexts; by the 19th century it broadened to denote any shocking, savage wrongdoing. The word carries a heavy legal and moral charge, frequently collocating with terms like war, genocide, crimes, and violations, reinforcing its association with systemic or state-sponsored harm. Over time, “atrocity” shifted from a neutral descriptor of brutality to a condemnatory term used in political rhetoric, journalism, and international law to assert accountability and memorialize victims.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "atrocities" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "atrocities"
-ies sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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