One syllable: cites.
/saɪts/
cites is pronounced /saɪts/. It has one syllable (cites), with the stress on "cites". Cites is a verb meaning to reference or quote as evidence in support of a statement or argument. It can also function as the third-person singular present tense form of cite. In academic or legal contexts, to cites is to attribute sources properly; in broader usage, it simply means to mention or quote someone or something as support.
Say it backCites is a verb meaning to reference or quote as evidence in support of a statement or argument. It can also function as the third-person singular present tense form of cite. In academic or legal contexts, to cites is to attribute sources properly; in broader usage, it simply means to mention or quote someone or something as support.
"The researcher cites several studies to back up her conclusions."
"In his essay, he cites a famous quotation from a 19th-century philosopher."
"The judge cites the precedent established in the earlier ruling."
Cites is pronounced /saɪts/. The initial consonant is the voiceless alveolar fricative 's', followed by the long diphthong /aɪ/ as in 'sigh', and ends with the voiceless alveolar stop /t/ plus a final /s/. Stress is on the only syllable. Tip: make the /ai/ glide quickly from open jaw to high tongue position before the final /ts/ cluster. You’ll hear it as one smooth syllable: sigh-ts.
Common mistakes: 1) Pronouncing it as 'sits' by using a short /ɪ/ vowel instead of /aɪ/. 2) Dropping the final /t/ and saying 'site' or 'size' with t-semantics. 3) Adding an extra syllable or pausing mid-sound. Corrections: use /saɪts/ with a clear /aɪ/ and a crisp /t/ before the final /s/. Practice by isolating /aɪ/ with a wide jaw opening, then release into the /ts/ cluster quickly.
Across accents, the main variation is vowel quality and rhoticity. In US/Canada, /saɪts/ has a rhotic-free ending in non-rhotic dialects; UK/AU typically maintain /saɪts/ with a clear /t/ before /s/. Vowel length is not contrastive here, but the preceding vowel may be slightly more centralized in some UK varieties. Australian English tends to be closer to US pronunciation, but with subtle vowel breadth and a slight rise in vowel height before /t/. Overall, /saɪts/ remains recognizable in all three, with minor timing and intonation differences.
The challenge lies in the /aɪ/ diphthong followed by a crisp /t/ before an /s/. Speakers often gloss over the /t/ or merge /t/ with /s/ into a /ts/ affricate too sloppily, producing /saɪs/ or /saɪts/ with a soft t. Ensure your tongue slices through the alveolar ridge for the /t/, then release into /s/ without an extra vowel. Also watch for vowel shortening in rapid speech.
A unique point is mastering the /aɪ/ diphthong with precise mouth movement and avoiding a centering lull before /t/. Keep your lips unrounded but relaxed, with the tongue gliding from low-mid to high-mid as you approach /aɪ/, then a rapid release to a crisp /t/ and final /s/. This helps avoid confusion with 'sites' or 'sight' in rapid speech and keeps the final /s/ voiceless.
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Cites comes from the Latin verb citare, meaning to summon, summon to cite, or call forth. The root cit- relates to shouting or naming, connected to 'cite' in English, with formal sense of calling forth authorities or sources. The word entered English via Old French cited, ultimately tracing through Latin citare and citatio (a quoting). In Middle English, cite matured to incorporate senses of quoting and referring to authorities. The noun form citation developed in parallel, with legal and scholarly usage emphasizing authoritative attribution. Over time, the verb shifted to include both the act of presenting sources and the act of naming or mentioning examples, quotations, or references. In modern usage, cite is common in academic writing, journalism, and legal contexts, where precise attribution is crucial. First known uses trace to late medieval scholastic practices of attributing statements to recognized authorities, later aligning with modern citation standards established in scholarly publishing.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "cites" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "cites" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "cites"
-tes sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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