4 syllables: com, men, ta, ries. Stress on com.
KAH-muhn-ter-eez
/ˈkɑməˌntɛɹiz/
commentaries is pronounced KAH-muhn-ter-eez (/ˈkɑməˌntɛɹiz/). It has four syllables (com-men-ta-ries), with the stress on "com". Commentaries are spoken or written analyses offering interpretation, explanation, or commentary on a subject. In practice, the term usually refers to recorded or published discussions—often timed to events or media—presented for an audience. The plural form implies multiple analyses, potentially by different commentators, each with its own perspective and emphasis.
Commentaries are spoken or written analyses offering interpretation, explanation, or commentary on a subject. In practice, the term usually refers to recorded or published discussions—often timed to events or media—presented for an audience. The plural form implies multiple analyses, potentially by different commentators, each with its own perspective and emphasis.
- You often misplace stress or flatten the middle syllables, producing com-MEN-tar-ies or com- men- tir-ies. To fix: rehearse with the main stress on the third syllable: com-men-TA-ries and clearly release the /t/ before -ri-. - Vowel quality in the -ter- syllable is easy to slur; maintain /ɛ/ rather than a reduced /ə/. Practice with: com-men-TEH- r-ies.
"The sports network aired several commentaries during the game, each with a distinct viewpoint."
"Her commentaries on climate policy are insightful and data-driven, making complex topics accessible."
"The documentary included expert commentaries that clarified the historical context for viewers."
Pronunciation: /ˈkɒmənˌtɛriz/ in UK and /kəˈmenˌtɛriz/ in US, with a secondary stress on the third syllable. Break it as com-men-TA- r-ies, where the main stress sits on the third syllable: -tær- (US) or -tɛər- (UK) before the final -iz. Tip: keep the middle vowels light and the final -iz crisp. For audio reference, imagine a clear delay before the final -riz sound; you’ll hear the two short vowels in the first two syllables and a sharper, unstressed final -iz.
Common mistakes: 1) Stress misplacement, saying com-MEN-ta-ries; fix by stressing the third syllable: com-men-TA-ries. 2) Slurring the middle consonants, resulting in /ˈkɒmənˌtæriz/ sounding like ‘comment-aries’; keep the -t- clearly released. 3) Vowel quality in the second and third syllables, especially Americans who may reduce /ɪ/ to a schwa; maintain /ɛ/ in -ter- to preserve distinction. Practice by saying: com-men-TAH- ries with crisp final /iz/.
US: /kəˈmenˌtæriːz/ or /ˌkɒmənˈtɛriz/ with rhoticity; pronounced with clear /r/ and final /-ɪz/. UK: /ˌkɒmənˈtɛəriz/ with non-rhotic /r/ and a longer /eə/ in -air- before -iz. AU: typically /kəˈmɛn.tə.riːz/ or /kɒmənˈtaːrɪz/; less rhotic influence than US, vowel shifts may lean toward Australian vowel qualities; ensure you keep stress on the same syllable while adjusting vowel length and quality. Listening to each variety helps solidify these nuances.
This word is morphologically multi-syllabic, with a non-stressed first syllable and a stressed third; the transition from /n/ to /t/ plus the final -riz can cause cluster confusion. The middle /t/ is often lightly released, and the final -ies forms /-iz/ that can blur if you don’t articulate the sibilant. The vowel shifts in American vs British variants add another layer: keep the /ɛ/ in -ter- and the /iː/ or /iː/ in final -iz, depending on accent.
A distinctive feature is the final syllable cluster -aries, which in many dialects yields a final /-əriz/ or /-ə-riːz/; the presence of a light, quickly released /t/ before -ə-/ -ri- can be subtle in fast speech. Emphasize the third syllable before the final -iz: com-men-TA-ries. In some accents, you’ll hear a slight linking vowel between syllables, so practice with slow, deliberate enunciation before speeding up.
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US vs UK vs AU: US favors a rhotic /r/ and may reduce vowels in rapid speech; UK tends toward non-rhotic with a longer /eə/ before -ri-; AU sits between, with broader, flatter vowels and less pronounced /r/. Use IPA anchors: US /kəˈmenˌtæriːz/ or /kəˈmenˌtɛriz/, UK /ˌkɒmənˈtɛəriz/, AU /kəˈmɛn.tə.riːz/. Focus on final -iz crispness in all accents.
Commentary derives from the Latin commentarius, meaning a notebook for notes or commentaries. The root comes from commentum, meaning “a note, remark, or commentary,” from commen- ‘with’ + -mentum ‘mind’ or ‘thought.’ In Middle English, commentary evolved to describe formal explanations appended to, or accompanying, other texts. Over time, the sense broadened from manuscript marginalia to spoken analysis, especially in journalism, film, sports, and academic discourse. The term first appeared in the 14th–15th centuries in Latin and Early English contexts, initially referencing marginal notes and marginalia in texts; by the 16th–17th centuries, it extended to public oratory and interpretive explanations. In modern usage, commentary commonly denotes evaluative, interpretive, or descriptive content offered by commentators in media, sports, politics, or scholarly discussions. The shift from written marginalia to broadcast commentary tracks with the rise of mass media in the 20th century, where series of analyses—often with a distinctive voice or angle—became a staple of programming and criticism.
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Words that rhyme with "commentaries"
-ies sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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