One syllable: Chimes.
cheyemz
/tʃaɪmz/
Chimes is pronounced cheyemz (/tʃaɪmz/). It has one syllable (Chimes), with the stress on "Chimes". Chimes refers to a set of bells or a device that produces musical tones when struck or moved by wind or gravity. In everyday use, it can denote the sound itself or a collection of bells hung together, often producing resonant, clarinet-like or bell-like tones. The term can also describe a decorative clapper or a signaling device that creates a ringing sound.
nounChimes refers to a set of bells or a device that produces musical tones when struck or moved by wind or gravity. In everyday use, it can denote the sound itself or a collection of bells hung together, often producing resonant, clarinet-like or bell-like tones. The term can also describe a decorative clapper or a signaling device that creates a ringing sound.
"The wind swung the chimes, filling the garden with a delicate, tinkling sound."
"She hung new chimes on the porch so every breeze would play a soft melody."
"The chimes tolled in the distance, signaling the start of the ceremony."
Chimes is pronounced with the initial affricate /tʃ/ as in chain, followed by /aɪ/ (as in eye) and ending with /mz/. IPA: US/UK/AU: /tʃaɪmz/. The stress is on the single syllable; lips lightly rounded for the /aɪ/ diphthong, with a final voiced /z/.
Common errors include mispronouncing the initial cluster as /tɪ/ or /ʃ/ instead of /tʃ/, and voicing the final /z/ as /s/ or dropping it altogether. Another pitfall is flattening the /aɪ/ into a simple /æ/ sound. To correct: produce /tʃ/ by touching the tongue to the alveolar ridge and releasing with a short burst, glide into /aɪ/, then finish with /mz/ rather than /m/ or /z/ alone.
In US/UK/AU, /tʃaɪmz/ remains consistent in core consonants, but rhoticity doesn’t affect onset here. Vowel color of /aɪ/ may be slightly tenser in some UK varieties. Australian tends to be more centralized in the nucleus of the /aɪ/ diphthong and may exhibit broader vowel quality in surrounding vowels.
The difficulty lies in the fast transition from the affricate onset /tʃ/ to the diphthong /aɪ/ and then the voiced final /mz/. Many learners distort the /tʃ/ blend or shorten the /aɪ/, producing /tʃe/ or /aɪm/ without the final voiced /z/. Practicing the full, voiced coda /mz/ helps maintain word integrity in connected speech.
The word challenges include maintaining the brief /tʃ/ onset with a smooth /aɪ/ nucleus and ensuring the final /mz/ is voiced, not devoiced or silent. This word tests your ability to sustain a single-syllable rhythm while timing the release of the /m/ and /z/ together, producing a clear, ringing end.
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Chimes originates from medieval Latin campana, meaning bell, with early English usage around the 13th century referring to bells or the ringing sound. The word’s evolution reflects both the object (bells, especially musical ones) and the sound produced by them. Historically, chimes were associated with church towers and clock mechanisms, where a series of tuned bells created a melodic sequence. The term also appears in music and literature to evoke a crystalline, resonant tone. The modern sense often emphasizes domestic or decorative bells that produce a gentle, tinkling resonance rather than a loud, church- bell sound. The plural form chimes refers to a set or the ensemble capable of producing tones, while singularly it can describe the sound itself (as in “the chime of the bells”). First known use traces to Middle English, with related forms in Old English and Romance languages denoting sound and bells, illustrating a consistent association with musical bell-like timbre across centuries.
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Help others use "Chimes" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Chimes" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Chimes" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Chimes"
-mes sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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