2 syllables: ca, ges. Stress on ca.
/ˈkeɪdʒɪz/
Say it backCages is the plural form of cage, meaning one or more enclosures made to confine animals or objects. The word often carries a literal sense (metal cages) but can be used metaphorically (cages of tradition), typically in plural usage in everyday speech and writing. It is a common term in both literal descriptions and broader discussions about confinement or protection.
"The farmer kept the chickens in small wire cages."
"Animal rescue workers removed lions from dangerous cages."
"The bird escaped from its cage and perched on the window sill."
Say it with two syllables: /ˈkeɪdʒɪz/. The first syllable has the long A as in 'cake' and the second is a short lax /ɪ/ plus z. The stress is on the first syllable: KEJ-ziz. In speaking, keep the j as a soft, voiced palatal stop /dʒ/. Try minimal mouth opening before /dʒ/ and a light, quick release into /ɪz/. Listen to native references to confirm the /eɪ/ and /dʒ/ clarity.
Common mistakes: flattening the /eɪ/ to a shorter /e/ or /eɪə/; mispronouncing the /dʒ/ as a /tʃ/ or /j/ sound; stumbling on the final /z/ by voicing it too softly or as /s/. Correction: ensure a clean /keɪdʒ/ onset with a precise /dʒ/ as in 'judge,' then a voiced /z/ at the end. Practice the transition from /dʒ/ to /z/ with a brief audible voicing: /dʒɪz/ rather than /dʒəs/.
US: /ˈkeɪdʒɪz/ with a clear /ɪ/ and non-rhotic r absence not relevant here. UK/AU: similar /ˈkeɪdʒɪz/, but might show slight vowel length variation in /eɪ/ and a crisper /dʒ/; AU tends toward a slightly less rounded /eɪ/ and a more centralized /ɪ/ in rapid speech. All three share the two-syllable pattern with primary stress on the first syllable.
Difficulties center on the voiced palatal affricate /dʒ/ immediately before the voiced alveolar /z/, which requires precise tongue position and release. Some speakers fuse /dʒ/ with /tʃ/ or /z/, leading to misarticulation like 'ka-jiz' or 'kay-jus.' Practicing the contrast between /dʒ/ and /tʃ/ in minimal pairs helps the articulation come out clearly in /keɪdʒɪz/.
No silent letters in standard pronunciation for 'cages.' The word is pronounced with all letters contributing phonetically: /k/ + /eɪ/ + /dʒ/ + /ɪ/ + /z/. Some rapid speech might reduce /ɪ/ to a schwa in casual speech, yielding something closer to /keɪdʒəz/; but the /ɪ/ does not become fully silent.
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Cages derives from the Middle English word cage, which itself comes from Old French cage, from the Frankish word *kaka* or a similar Germanic root, ultimately linked to the Latin caustum meaning ‘bar, cage’? The true lineage traces through late Latin and Old French adaptations into English by the 13th century, where ‘cage’ signified a metal or wooden enclosure with bars or a frame. The plural ending -s in ‘cages’ follows regular English pluralization. Over time, the term broadened from tangible enclosures (for birds, animals) to metaphorical uses (a life cage, the social cages of conformity). In modern usage, ‘cages’ frequently appears in discussions of animal captivity, pet care, and even metaphorical restrictions in social or political contexts. The word’s first known written appearances occur in Middle English texts as ‘cage,’ with documented usage by the 1200s, gradually shifting in spelling and pronunciation to align with the evolving sounds of English over the centuries.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "cages" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "cages" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "cages"
-ges sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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