2 syllables: a, voids. Stress on voids.
/əˈvɔɪdz/
Say it backAvoids is the third-person singular present tense of the verb avoid, meaning to keep away from or prevent. It denotes deliberate action to stay clear of something, often for safety, risk reduction, or personal preference. In usage, it signals avoidant behavior or strategies, and appears in contexts ranging from everyday decisions to formal risk assessments.
"The company avoids using harsh chemicals in its products."
"She avoids heavy traffic by leaving early."
"He avoids discussing the topic to prevent conflict."
Pronounced as /əˈvɔɪdz/. The first syllable is unstressed /ə/ (uh), the second syllable carries primary stress: /ˈvɔɪ/ with the /ɔɪ/ diphthong like 'boy'. The final /dz/ is a voiced alveolar affricate. In careful speech you’ll hear a clear /d/ before the final /z/. In fast speech, the /ə/ can be reduced further and the /d/ may be softer, but the /ɔɪ/ remains the core nucleus. Audio references include pronunciation dictionaries or platforms like Forvo for speaker variation.
Common errors: (1) treating /ɔɪ/ as a simple /ɔ/ or /o/ like in 'avoid', which shortens the diphthong; (2) misplacing the stress, saying /əˈɒvɪdz/ with a weak second syllable; (3) voicing the final z as /s/ or not releasing the final /d/ before /z/. Correct by emphasizing the /vɔɪ/ nucleus and ending with the clear /dz/ cluster; keep the /d/ before /z/ articulated clearly and avoid turning the /ɪ/ into a schwa in rapid speech.
US.: /əˈvɔɪdz/ with rhoticity typical, full /ɔɪ/ diphthong, clear /dz/ ending. UK: /əˈvɔɪdz/ similar but with sometimes less rhotic influence and slightly rounded /ɔɪ/; AUS: /əˈvɔɪdz/ often with more centralized or flattened vowels in rapid speech and a less pronounced /dz/ due to Australian vowel reduction. All share the same final /dz/ cluster but quality, length, and rhotics can vary based on local vowel shifts and mel wavelength, particularly in fast conversation.
The challenge is the /ɔɪ/ diphthong, which sits between open-mid and high-front positions and involves a glide from /ɔ/ to /ɪ/. The final /dz/ cluster requires precise voicing and a brief stop before voicing, which some speakers blend into a simple /z/. Additionally, the unstressed first syllable /ə/ can reduce toward a schwa in casual speech, masking the word’s rhythm. Practice by isolating the nucleus /ɔɪ/ and syncing the /d/ and /z/ release.
Tip: anchor the word’s rhythm by planning the nucleus /ɔɪ/ as the pivotal moment, then snap the /d/ before the final /z/ with a light but audible stop. Practice with minimal pairs that differ in the /ɔɪ/ sound (avoid/avoids) to keep the diphthong dynamic intact. Mentally stress the second syllable and ensure the final /dz/ is not reduced to /z/.Listening to native speakers via YouGlish or Cambridge can reinforce the precise timing and sound quality.
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The verb avoid derives from Old French evuider or éviter, from Latin avoidare, from ad- ‘toward’ + via ‘way, road’ (cf. the Spanish evitar). Early English usage appears in the 14th–15th centuries through Norman influence. The core sense developed from “to shun a path, way of life, or situation” to today’s general sense of keeping away from something undesirable. The Latin root via becomes ‘way’; ad- adds the sense of “toward,” but in avoidance contexts it gradually shifted to mean moving away from a hazard or unwanted outcome. Throughout Middle English and Early Modern English, avoid kept its moral and preventive overtones, culminating in modern usage focusing on deliberate non-engagement with people, activities, or risks. First known prints show cautionary usage in legal and moral contexts, with broader adoption in everyday speech by the 17th–18th centuries as commerce and travel expanded exposure to varied risks.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "avoids" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "avoids"
-ids sounds
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