4 syllables: com, plex, i, ties. Stress on plex.
kuhm-PLEK-sit-eez
/kəmˈplɛksɪtiz/
complexities is pronounced kuhm-PLEK-sit-eez (/kəmˈplɛksɪtiz/). It has four syllables (com-plex-i-ties), with the stress on "plex". Complexities refers to the intricate, multifaceted aspects of a subject or situation. It emphasizes the presence of many interconnected parts, requiring careful analysis or consideration. The term conveys depth, nuance, and potential obscurity that can complicate understanding or decision making.
Complexities refers to the intricate, multifaceted aspects of a subject or situation. It emphasizes the presence of many interconnected parts, requiring careful analysis or consideration. The term conveys depth, nuance, and potential obscurity that can complicate understanding or decision making.
- Commonly you may mis-sequence the syllables, creating an extra vowel between /plɛm/ and /sɪ/ or pronouncing the word as /ˈkɒm-plɛkˌsɪtɪz/. Correct by chunking: kə-MPLÉK-sə-tiz; keep the stressed /PLÉK/ as a compact unit. - Another error is softening or elongating the final /iz/ into /iːz/; aim for a crisp /tiz/ with a light tongue tip contact for the final /z/. - Some learners mispronounce the /pl/ cluster, inserting a vowel or misplacing the /l/ by letting the tongue rest incorrectly. Practice the onset with a crisp /p/ followed by /l/ before the /ɛ/. - A final trap is not maintaining steady pace; you may speed through the early syllables and smear the stress. Use slow, deliberate starts and then build rhythm.
"The complexities of climate policy make it difficult to craft universally effective solutions."
"He admitted that the task’s complexities would require input from multiple departments."
"We explored the complexities of supply chains, including demand fluctuations and regulatory constraints."
Pronounce as /kəm-ˈplɛk-sɪ-tiz/ (US/UK alike), with a four-syllable rhythm. Start with a schwa /kə/, then a clear 'PL' cluster on stressed syllable, followed by /ɛk/ (short e as in 'red'), then /sɪ/ (short i), and end with /tiz/ where /t/ and /ɪ/ blend into a light /z/ at the end. Tip: keep the 'plex' portion tight, and avoid inserting extra vowels between syllables.
Two common errors: 1) Misplacing the stress, e.g., saying /ˈkɔm-plẹk-sɪ-tiz/ or spreading the stress to the second syllable. 2) Slurring /plɛk/ and /sɪ/ into a single syllable or mispronouncing /ɪ/ as /iː/. Correction: emphasize the /PLÉK/ block with a distinct onset and keep the /sɪ/ separate before the final /tiz/. Practice slow, then normal tempo focusing on crisp /t/ and clear /z/ end.
US/UK/AU share the /kəm-ˈplɛk-sɪ-tiz/ core, but rhoticity influences the preceding schwa in some contexts in US English, making /kəm-ˈplɛk-sɪ-tiz/ robustly rhotic. UK sometimes reduces the final syllables more, with a slightly shorter /ɪ/ and a crisper /tiz/. Australian tends to be non-rhotic like UK, with less vowel reduction in unstressed syllables and a slightly broader /æ/ quality in the /ɛ/ of 'plex' if present, though most speakers converge on /kəm-ˈplɛk-sɪ-tiz/. IPA reference remains /kəm-ˈplɛk-sɪ-tiz/ across variants.
Two core challenges: 1) The multi-syllabic load with four syllables and a dense consonant cluster in the stressed syllable /-PLÉK-/: you must hit the /pl/ onset crisply and transition quickly to /ɛk/. 2) End consonant cluster /-tiz/ demands a light but accurate t-to-z transition without a drawn-out stop. Focus on a brisk /t/ release into /ɪ/ and then a clean /z/. Mastery comes from practicing the exact sequence: kə-MPLÉK-sə-tiz, with even rhythm across syllables.
One unique consideration is the 'plex' part, which houses the consonant blend /pl/ followed by /ɛk/. It’s easy to mispronounce as /pliks/ or misplace the /ɛ/ by adding an extra vowel. Ensure a single, tight /plɛk/ block under the primary stress and then glide into the /sɪ/ before the final /tiz/. The final /tiz/ should be unvoiced-to-voiced transition cleanly realized as /tiz/ rather than /tit/.
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- US: emphasize rhoticity in connected speech; keep the /ə/ in initial syllable neutral and ensure the /PLÉK/ block remains tight and clear. Vowel in /ɛ/ should sound like the 'e' in 'bet', not as /æ/. - UK: less rhotic influence; concise /tiz/ end; keep /ɛ/ crisp without over-lip rounding. Evidence shows slightly shorter vowels in unstressed syllables, particularly /ə/. - AU: non-rhotic tendency similar to UK; maintain a balanced vowel for /ɛ/ and ensure final /z/ is voiced but not overly loud. IPA: /kəˈplɛk.sɪ.tɪz/ in broad terms; many speakers produce /kəmˈplɛksɪtiz/ depending on locality. - Across accents, aim for a steady, non-tented rhythm; stress remains on -PLÉK- syllable; ensure a precise /t/ before /ɪ/ and a clear /z/ at the end.
The word complexities comes from the noun complexity, which derives from the Latin complexus meaning ‘a surrounding, embrace, or combination.’ Complexus itself is formed from com- ‘together’ and plectere ‘to plait, twist, or weave.’ The English adoption involved Old French complexité before evolving into complexity in the 17th century, with -ties as a Latin-derived noun-forming suffix indicating state or condition. The plural form complexities emerged as a natural extension of the singular, used to describe multiple facets or intricate features of a system. Over time, complexities gained use in philosophy, science, and public policy to articulate the layered interdependencies that resist simple explanations. The term often carries a neutral scholarly tone, though in some contexts it can imply excessive complication or potential obfuscation. First known uses in English appeared in academic discourse in the late 1600s to early 1700s, reflecting emerging scientific and mathematical language that described multifaceted systems and problems. By the 19th and 20th centuries, complexities became a common term in sociology, economics, and technology, frequently paired with analyses of causation, interaction, and systemic behavior.
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Words that rhyme with "complexities"
-ies sounds
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