Changes (noun, plural) refer to alterations or modifications made to something, resulting in a different state or condition. They can be minor or significant, and can occur over time or in response to a specific trigger. In everyday use, changes often imply a process rather than a single, fixed outcome.
"There have been some dramatic changes to the project plan since yesterday."
"Seasonal changes in weather require packing different clothes."
"The company announced changes to its leadership and strategy."
"Small changes in your pronunciation can improve overall clarity."
Changes comes from the verb change, which derives from the Old French chançon or changier, from Latin cambiare ‘to exchange, alter’ and Old English gehbyrnan ‘to become other’. The noun form appears in Middle English as chaunge(s) or chonges, with the pluralized noun sense emerging as English speakers began to use changes to denote multiple alterations or processes. Over centuries, the meaning broadened from a specific exchange or shift to a more general notion of alterations in state, form, or condition. First known uses in English point to the sense of “the act of changing” or “a turn in circumstances,” with 16th–17th century writers employing changes to describe political or personal transformations before the word settled into its modern, everyday usage. Today, changes commonly appear in contexts ranging from technology and science to personal growth and climate, reflecting their core identity as events that move things from one state to another.
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Words that rhyme with "Changes"
-ges sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ˈtʃeɪn.dʒɪz/ (US/UK/AU alike in initial syllable). Start with /tʃ/ as in 'chair', then /eɪ/ as in 'day', then /n/; add /dʒ/ as in 'judge' for the second onset, followed by /ɪ/ as in 'bit' and end with /z/. Primary stress on the first syllable: CHAYN-jiz. In connected speech, you’ll hear a light linking between the syllables, but keep the /n/ and /dʒ/ distinct for clarity.
Common errors include merging the two consonants /n/ and /dʒ/ into a single cluster or pronouncing the second syllable as /dʒɪz/ without a clear /n/ onset. Another frequent slip is de-emphasizing the /eɪ/ vowel in the first syllable, making it sound more like /tʃeɪn.dʒɪz/ with a weak middle. Correct by isolating the /n/ before /dʒ/ and maintaining a clear /eɪ/ before the /n/.
Across US, UK, and AU, the word remains rhotic in most American and Australian accents, with the /r/ not present here; the main variation is vowel quality and tempo. In many UK varieties, the /eɪ/ in the first syllable can be slightly shorter and tenser, while US/AU tend to have a slightly longer diphthong. The final /z/ stays voiced across all, but some British speakers may reduce the vowel slightly beforehand in quick speech.
The difficulty lies in coordinating the final /ɪ/ with the following /z/ while maintaining a clear /n/ onset in the second syllable. The transition from /n/ to /dʒ/ is a two-phoneme shift that can blur in rapid speech. Additionally, the /eɪ/ diphthong in stressed first syllable requires mouth position to shift smoothly without reducing the clarity of the /n/.
A notable feature is the crisp /dʒ/ onset in the second syllable after /n/. Many learners misplace the tongue tip and tongue blade, producing a softer or blended sound. Practice with minimal pairs like 'change' vs. 'changes' to ensure you introduce the /dʒ/ clearly while preserving the /n/ before it. Focus on timing: the /n/ should release just before /dʒ/.
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