2 syllables: a, waits. Stress on waits.
/əˈweɪts/
Say it backAwait s is a verb meaning to wait for something or someone with anticipation. It denotes imminent or future waiting, often implying readiness or expectation. In usage, it can express that a person or event is expected to occur at a future time, sometimes with a sense of patience or suspense.
"We await your response to the invitation."
"Fans await the announcement with bated breath."
"Justice will await the committee's decision."
You pronounce it as ə-ˈweɪts in standard English. The first syllable is a schwa (ə) and the second is stressed with a long a sound /eɪ/. The final /ts/ is a crisp voiceless alveolar affricate. IPA: US/UK/AU: əˈweɪts. Ensure a clean release on the /t/ to avoid blending with the following consonant if followed by another word.
Common errors include smoothing the /t/ into a d-like sound (aˈweɪdz) and misplacing the primary stress as on the first syllable (ˈəˌweɪts). Another mistake is a reduced vowel in the second syllable, turning /eɪ/ into /iː/ or /ɛ/. To correct: keep the second syllable clearly stressed with /eɪ/ and clearly release the /t/; resist adding a nasal or voiced stop after the /t/ in rapid speech.
In US, UK, and AU accents, the vowel in /eɪ/ is similar, but rhoticity matters. US and AU typically have rhotic r-coloration elsewhere; within awaits itself, the /eɪ/ remains a tense diphthong. The main difference is consonant timing: some UK speakers may have a more pronounced glottal stop for the /t/ in casual speech or a softer /t/ in rapid speech, while US speakers generaly retain a crisp /t/. Overall, /əˈweɪts/ remains consistent but casual speech shows subtle timing shifts.
The difficulty comes from balancing the weak initial schwa with a strong /eɪ/ diphthong and a precise /t/ release before an final /s/. Learners often mispronounce the /eɪ/ as a short vowel, or merge the /t/ with the following /s/ into a single /s/ sound. Focusing on a crisp /t/ release and maintaining clear lip-rounding for /eɪ/ helps; keep the mouth open wider for the /eɪ/ and ensure air flows to generate the final voiceless /s/.
A unique feature is the stress pattern: the word is two syllables, with primary stress on the second: a-WAITS. This shifts the vowel quality and jaw position slightly compared to a monotone expression, and in connected speech the initial schwa can reduce, making the word sound like ə-WAITS in casual speech. Maintaining a strong second syllable helps listeners correctly segment the word in context.
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US: rhotic, more pronounced /r/ influence elsewhere but not in awaits; US speakers maintain clear /eɪ/ with minimal lip rounding. UK: slight non-rhoticity, crisper /t/ release with potential glottalization in casual speech; AU: similar to US but vowels may be slightly tenser and more forward; practice with a strong /eɪ/ and crisp /t/. IPA references: /əˈweɪts/.
Await derives from the Old French attendre, which meant to wait, tarry, or stay. The English form likely entered Middle English via Anglo-Norman influence, reflecting a compound sense of attentiveness toward a prospective event. The root attendre comes from Latin attentere, a blend of ad- (toward) and tenere (to hold, to keep). Over centuries, the word shifted from a broadly “to hold in patience” sense to the more specific “to wait for something or someone” in modern English. The suffix -s marks third-person singular present tense, as in waits. First known uses in English texts appear in the late medieval period, solidifying the sense of expectation tied to a forthcoming action or person. By Early Modern English, awaits had taken its modern form and usage, commonly appearing in literary and administrative contexts where awaiting a decision, response, or event was a frequent theme. Today, awaits is a verb that blends patience with anticipation, carrying formal and slightly literary nuance in many contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "awaits" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "awaits"
-its sounds
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