3 syllables: co, lo, nies. Stress on co.
KAH-luh-neez
/ˈkɑləniz/
colonies is pronounced KAH-luh-neez (/ˈkɑləniz/). It has three syllables (co-lo-nies), with the stress on "co". Colonies are settlements established by a group from another country or region, typically abroad, that maintain ties with their homeland while governing themselves. They can also refer to a group of organisms produced by budding or replication in biology. In historical contexts, colonies often denote imperial territories built for resource extraction or strategic advantage. The term emphasizes a population living away from the original homeland, sometimes with mixed governance and evolving cultural identity.
Colonies are settlements established by a group from another country or region, typically abroad, that maintain ties with their homeland while governing themselves. They can also refer to a group of organisms produced by budding or replication in biology. In historical contexts, colonies often denote imperial territories built for resource extraction or strategic advantage. The term emphasizes a population living away from the original homeland, sometimes with mixed governance and evolving cultural identity.
"The 13 colonies became the United States after declaring independence."
"Researchers studied colonies of bacteria under the microscope."
"Several colonies settled along the coast, influencing local trade networks."
Stress falls on the first syllable: CO-luh-neez. Phonetically: /ˈkɒl.ə.niz/ in UK and /ˈkɑː.lə.niz/ in US, with a light, schwa-like middle vowel and a long final 'eez' (/niz/). The final -ies is an /iz/ or /iːz/ sound depending on the accent; many speakers reduce the middle vowel to a schwa. Mouth posture: start with a rounded back of tongue in /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ for CO, then a relaxed central vowel for /ə/, and finish with the crisp /niz/.
Common errors: (1) Over-pronouncing the second syllable leading to /ˈkɒl.əˈnaɪz/ or /ˈkɒl.ən-aɪz/. (2) Dropping the middle schwa: /ˈkɒl.niz/ makes it sound like two syllables instead of three. (3) Misplacing stress with a too-strong secondary stress on the second syllable in rapid speech. Correction: keep primary stress on first syllable and ensure the middle vowel is a quick, relaxed /ə/. Practice by isolating CO- and then adding -lo-nies with a light /ə/ before /niz/.
US: /ˈkɑː.lə.niz/ with broad /ɑː/ in the first syllable and a clear /ə/ in the second; rhotic, r-coloring before vowels. UK: /ˈkɒl.ən.iːz/ or /ˈkɒl.ə.niz/, shorter second vowel; non-rhotic so r is not pronounced. AU: /ˈkɒl.ə.niz/ similar to UK, but vowel qualities drift toward /ɒ/ in some regions and a slightly squeezed middle vowel; final /iː/ may be heard as /iz/. Emphasize the first syllable in all; the middle vowel is reduced, and the final -ies depends on speed but typically /ɪz/ or /iz/.
The difficulty lies in managing the three-syllable structure with a stressed first syllable, and a weak middle vowel that can be swallowed in fast speech. The transitions between /kɑː/ or /ɒl/ to /lə/ require controlled tongue movement; many speakers harmonize the middle /ə/ with neighboring vowels, which blurs syllable boundaries. Practice with slow, deliberate pacing, then loop to faster speeds while maintaining distinct /n/ and /z/ endings.
Yes. In rapid or careful speech, the final s can glide toward a long /iː/ or /i/ before /z/, sounding like -neez or -niz depending on acceleration and speaker. Most American and many British speakers maintain /-nɪz/ or /-niz/; some speakers may reduce the vowel to a very short /ɪ/ or /ə/ before /z/ in casual speech. Listen for the slight lengthening of the /i/ in careful enunciation.
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Colonies derives from the Latin colonus, meaning tenant farmer or inhabitant of a colony, through the Middle French colonie, then Old French colony. The root colon- comes from colonus, with the sense of a settler or cultivator. In English, colony first appeared in the 16th century to describe territories settled and ruled by another country; by the 17th–18th centuries, it broadened to biological contexts (colonies of bacteria or plants). The word absorbed the sense of a body of people who reside in a new land but owe allegiance or economic ties to their homeland, often framing imperial and national narratives. Early uses emphasized governance and settlement, while mid-20th-century usage expanded to describe organizational or biological groupings, such as bacterial colonies or insect colonies. The term’s core notion remains: a population living in a new place with ties to a parent or origin, whether political, economic, or biological.
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Words that rhyme with "colonies"
-ies sounds
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