One syllable: charms.
chahrmz
/tʃɑɹmz/
charms is pronounced chahrmz (/tʃɑɹmz/). It has one syllable (charms), with the stress on "charms". Charms (noun or verb, plural) refers to objects believed to bring luck or enchantment, or to the act of delighting or pleasing someone. In its noun sense, it denotes talismans or amulets; as a verb, it means to attract or have a magical influence. The term often conveys a sense of attraction, allure, or spellbinding appeal, depending on context and pronunciation emphasis.
Charms (noun or verb, plural) refers to objects believed to bring luck or enchantment, or to the act of delighting or pleasing someone. In its noun sense, it denotes talismans or amulets; as a verb, it means to attract or have a magical influence. The term often conveys a sense of attraction, allure, or spellbinding appeal, depending on context and pronunciation emphasis.
- Don't reduce the vowel before the final consonants; in 'charms' the vowel should be a clear /ɑː/ or /ɑ/ depending on accent, not a lax /ə/. - Avoid turning the final cluster /rmz/ into /rm/ or /mz/ by dropping the /z/ sound; keep the voiced /z/ crisp. - Don’t overly detach the /tʃ/ onset; maintain a smooth, continuous /tʃ/ glide into the vowel so the word sounds natural in connected speech.
"- The old bracelet in the shop window was filled with charms from distant lands."
"- She wore several silver charms on her bracelet, each with a story."
"- The singer’s performance charmed the audience and earned a standing ovation."
Charms is pronounced /tʃɑːmz/ in UK and AU accents and /tʃɑrms/ in many US varieties. The initial is the voiceless postalveolar affricate /tʃ/, followed by the open back unrounded vowel on the stressed syllable. The final is the voiced alveolar/affricate /m/ plus /z/. In fast connected speech, the vowel may be slightly reduced to a lax /ɑ/; keep the final /mz/ crisp to avoid sounding like 'charms' with a neutralized ending.
Common errors include pronouncing it as /tʃærms/ with a short /æ/ in the first vowel, which makes it sound like 'charms' in some American dialects but not accurate for many speakers. Another mistake is omitting the final /z/ and ending with /m/ only or devoicing the final consonant, sounding like /tʃɑrm/ or /tʃɑːmz/ inconsistently. Focus on sustaining the /z/ voice after /m/ and maintaining a long /ɑː/ or /ɑ/ before it. Practice with minimal pairs to reinforce the /m/ + /z/ combination and the correct vowel quality.
In US English, the vowel before the final /mz/ is typically /ɑ/ (as in 'car'), yielding /tʃɑrmz/ or /tʃɑːmz/ depending on region; the /r/ may be rhotic. In UK English, the /r/ is non-rhotic, so you may hear /tʃɑːmz/ with a longer /ɑː/ and less pronounced r. Australian accents often share the non-rhotic quality of UK English, with a broad /ɑː/ in the first vowel and a clearly voiced final /mz/. The key accent difference is rhoticity and vowel length before the final /mz/; ensure the /z/ is audible in all accents.
The challenge lies in the consonant cluster /rmz/ at the end, where the /r/ (in rhotic accents) or the /m/ can affect the precise release into /z/. For non-rhotic speakers, the /r/ is muted, shifting vowel length perception before the final /mz/. Additionally, achieving a clear, voiced /z/ after /m/ requires a brief voicing stop and keeping the tongue at the alveolar ridge for the /z/. Practicing the sequence /ɑː/ or /ɑ/ plus /rmz/ with a focused voicing can help you stabilize the ending in all English varieties.
Is the /r/ in 'charms' pronounced as a linking sound when followed by another word starting with a vowel (e.g., 'charms you') in American English?
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- US: Rhotic, keep /r/ pronounced; the vowel before /mz/ tends to be /ɑ/ or /ɒ/ depending on region; practice with non-rhotic contexts to feel the difference. - UK: Non-rhotic; longer /ɑː/ before /mz/; ensure the /r/ is not pronounced; keep final /z/ voiced. - AU: Non-rhotic to lightly rhotic; similar to UK but with Australian vowel qualities; aim for /ɑː/ before /mz/ with clear /z/; keep familiar intonation. - IPA references: US /tʃɑrms/ or /tʃɑrmz/, UK/AU /tʃɑːmz/; focus on rhotic vs non-rhotic influence on preceding vowel.
Charms comes from the Old French charme, from Latin carmen meaning a song, verse, or incantation. The sense of a magical spell or enchantment evolved in Middle English through ecclesiastical and folkloric usage, where charms referred to spoken charms or invocations intended to cure or protect. By the 14th–15th centuries, the word broadened to include talismans and objects thought to possess magical power, particularly in folklore and superstition. In modern English, charm retains dual roles: as a plural noun referring to amulets or trinkets, and as a verb meaning to delight or bewitch. The evolution reflects a shift from external magical objects to the social magic of personality and appeal, with the verb usage becoming common in everyday contexts such as “charmed by his hospitality” or “charms of a performance.” First known use as a noun in Middle English, with attestations under the spelling charm or charme, later standardized to charms by the 16th century as plural forms became common for lists of talismans or charms collected in life stories and folklore collections.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "charms" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "charms" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "charms"
-rms sounds
-lms sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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