3 syllables: com, men, ces. Stress on men.
kuh-MEN-suhz
/kəˈmɛnsəz/
commences is pronounced kuh-MEN-suhz (/kəˈmɛnsəz/). It has three syllables (com-men-ces), with the stress on "men". Commences is the verb to begin or start, typically in an official or formal context. It carries a sense of initiating events, processes, or actions, often used in announcements or descriptions of procedures. In practical use, it marks the onset of a period or activity and is commonly followed by a gerund or noun (e.g., the project commences next month).
Commences is the verb to begin or start, typically in an official or formal context. It carries a sense of initiating events, processes, or actions, often used in announcements or descriptions of procedures. In practical use, it marks the onset of a period or activity and is commonly followed by a gerund or noun (e.g., the project commences next month).
"The ceremony commences at noon with a brief address from the mayor."
"Work on the project commences once the funding is secured."
"The trial commences tomorrow after the court adjourns."
Pronounced /kəˈmɛn.sɪz/ (US) or /kəˈmensɪz/ (UK/AU). Stress is on the second syllable: kem-ENSES. Start with a schwa /kə/ before the stressed /ˈmɛn/ or /ˈmens/, then a light /sɪz/ ending. The final -es is an z-sound. Mouth position: keep the tongue high-mid for /m/ and /ɛ/ vowel, relax the jaw, and voice the final /z/ clearly. You can listen to native examples on Forvo or YouGlish for precise pronunciation.
Two common pitfalls: 1) misplacing the stress, saying /kəˈmən.sɪz/ or /ˈkə.mɛn.sɪz/ with incorrect syllable emphasis; ensure the stress sits on the second syllable: /kəˈmɛn-sɪz/. 2) softening the final /z/ to an /s/ or voiceless edit, resulting in /kəˈmɛn.sɪs/. Practice by producing a clear /z/ at the end, keeping voicing; the final consonant should be a voiced /z/. Listen to native samples to compare voicing and place of articulation.
US: /kəˈmɛn.sɪz/ with a rhotic /r/ presence in related words but not in commence itself; UK/AU: /kəˈmensɪz/ with a slightly crisper /m/ and less prominent vowel reduction in the first syllable. The US version tends to have a slightly higher vowel in the stressed syllable; UK/AU may show a more clipped /ˈmɛn/ or /ˈmens/. The final /z/ remains voiced across accents. Use IPA as a guide and rely on listening practice to tune subtle vowel qualities.
The challenge lies in the multi-syllable rhythm and the contrastive stress on the second syllable, which changes the mouth posture. Also, the final voiced alveolar fricative /z/ requires steady voicing after a short, closed /s/ transition. The close front vowel in /mɛn/ can vary between speakers, causing subtle mispronunciations. Maintaining crisp consonants around the stress and ensuring the voicing of /z/ at the end helps clarity. IPA guidance and listening can solidify correct production.
No silent letters in commences. Every letter participates in sounding: /k/ in /kə/ is a solid onset, /ˈmɛn/ or /ˈmens/ is clearly stressed, and the final /z/ is voiced. The challenge is linking the two central syllables smoothly and maintaining a steady, voiced end with proper syllable timing. Focus on the transition from /ˈmɛn/ or /ˈmens/ to /z/ to prevent a trailing /s/ sound.
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Commences derives from the Latin word comitus? No—that's incorrect. The correct etymology traces to the Latin com- (together) and main words might be 'come' via Old French comencier, meaning to begin, to undertake, to come forth. The English verb commence appears in the late 14th century, borrowed through Old French comencer, from Latin incēmere? The root is more orientated toward ‘to begin’ rather than physical coming, with the sense evolving from formal initiation and official beginnings. Over time, commence moved into legal, governmental, and formal discourse, distinguishing itself from more everyday verbs like start or begin. The phonology of commence shifted with sound changes in English; the modern form commences uses the -s third-person singular present tense. First known use is recorded in Middle English legal and ecclesiastical texts; it gained wider general usage in 16th–18th centuries as English formal registers grew in literature and journalism. The word’s Latin and French origins reflect a long-standing tradition of formal diction in governance and public life.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "commences" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "commences"
-ces sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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