4 syllables: Com, mo, di, ties. Stress on mo.
kuh-MAH-duh-teez
/kəˈmɑdətiz/
Commodities is pronounced kuh-MAH-duh-teez (/kəˈmɑdətiz/). It has four syllables (Com-mo-di-ties), with the stress on "mo". Commodities refers to goods or raw materials that can be bought and sold, especially those that are interchangeable with others of the same type. In economics and trade, commodities include items like oil, gold, wheat, and coffee that are standardized and traded on exchanges. The term can also describe basic, staple products or resources generally consumed rather than produced for individual use.
nounCommodities refers to goods or raw materials that can be bought and sold, especially those that are interchangeable with others of the same type. In economics and trade, commodities include items like oil, gold, wheat, and coffee that are standardized and traded on exchanges. The term can also describe basic, staple products or resources generally consumed rather than produced for individual use.
"The country exports a range of commodities, including oil and wheat."
"Investors diversify portfolios by trading commodity futures."
"Developing nations often rely on commodity exports to drive growth."
Pronounce as kə-MA-di-tiz (US) or ˌkɒ-mə-ˈdɪ-ɪ-tiz (UK). The word has four syllables with primary stress on the third syllable: co-MOD-i-ties in many pronunciations. You’ll place the main mouth position to sound 'mah' in the stressed syllable, then reduce the final -ti-es to a light 'tiz' ending. Listen for the typical weak-shock reduction in the first syllable 'kə' and connect to the middle 'MA-'; the final 'tiz' should sound like 'tiz' rather than 'teez.' Audio references: Cambridge/Forvo entries; try slow, then natural pace to hear the rhythm.
Common errors: misplacing the stress (saying ko-MA-di-ties); pronouncing the final -ties as '-teez' or '-tays'; and flattening the middle vowel into a dull 'uh' sound. Correction tips: keep the weak first syllable reduced as 'kə,' place primary stress on the third syllable 'MAH' or 'MOD,' and render the ending as 'tiz' with a crisp 'z' to avoid a drawn-out 'eez'—practice with minimal pairs to feel the difference in stress and final consonant.
US tends to reduce the first syllable to 'kə' with strong stress on the third; UK often places the primary stress on the second or third syllable with a shorter 'i' sound in the final -ties; AU is similar to US but with more rounded vowels in the first syllable and a slightly flatter final syllable. The rhoticity in US influences the 'r-less' ending sound in connected speech. Listen for the smoother connection between 'ma' and 'dity' in US and AU; UK may show crisper consonants and a lighter final 'z' sound.
The difficulty comes from the four-syllable length, the schwa in the first syllable, and the cluster around the stressed third syllable with a 'd' before the final 'ties.' The final '-ties' often reduces to 'tiz,' which can be tricky for learners preferring a longer 'ee' or 'ay' ending. Focus on the transition from the stressed 'MOD' to the quickly reduced 'i' and final 'tiz' using a steady tempo and minimal pairs to stabilize rhythm.
Is the 'ti' in Commodities pronounced as 'ti' or 'shi' in some dialects? Generally not; it standardly reduces to a 'ti' sound as in 'ties' with a voiceless 'z' at the end. Some rapid or casual speech may create a tiny 'zh' or 's' blend before the final z, but in careful speech it remains a clear 'tiz' sound. Use a light tongue tip for the /t/ and a crisp /z/ to avoid an elongated or softened ending.
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Commodity comes from the Old French commodié, from medieval Latin commoditas, meaning 'convenience, advantage, or profit.' The root commod- derives from the Latin commodus, meaning 'convenient' or 'advantageous,' paired with the suffix -ity to indicate a state or condition. The sense shifted from general convenience to a marketable thing of value that can be bought or sold. The modern economic meaning—goods that are standardized and traded—emerged over centuries as global exchange and industrialization created standardized items like metals, agricultural products, and energy. In the 17th–18th centuries, merchants began to classify interchangeable goods that could be traded without regard to origin, laying groundwork for futures markets and commodity exchanges. The word entered common usage in English through trade languages and financial discourse, with the broader sense of ‘marketable goods’ shaping its contemporary definition. First known uses in English date from early modern commerce texts, where traders described items suitable for barter and standardized for exchange. Over time, commodities became a technical category in economics, distinguishing tangible goods from services, and encompassing both bulky physical goods and primary agricultural outputs that underpin global markets.
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Words that rhyme with "Commodities"
-ies sounds
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