2 syllables: con, firms. Stress on firms.
kuhn-FURMZ
/kəˈnfɝmz/
confirms is pronounced kuhn-FURMZ (/kəˈnfɝmz/). It has two syllables (con-firms), with the stress on "firms". Confirms is a verb meaning to establish the truth of a statement or to support a hypothesis by providing evidence or assurance. In everyday use it often appears in formal and informal contexts, indicating verification or endorsement. The form includes the third-person singular present tense and plural contexts, and is pronounced with a stress on the second syllable in many accents.
Confirms is a verb meaning to establish the truth of a statement or to support a hypothesis by providing evidence or assurance. In everyday use it often appears in formal and informal contexts, indicating verification or endorsement. The form includes the third-person singular present tense and plural contexts, and is pronounced with a stress on the second syllable in many accents.
- Common challenge: failing to maintain the strong second-syllable stress in rapid speech. Correction: rehearse con-FIRMS slowly, then speed up while keeping the vowel distinct. - Mistake: mispronouncing /ɜːr/ as a neutral schwa; not rhotic enough in US. Correction: round the lips slightly and maintain rhotic coloring. - Endings: mispronouncing the /mz/ as /m/ or /z/ alone; correction: practice the /m/ closure with immediate voiced alveolar /z/ release.
"She confirms the meeting time after checking everyone's availability."
"The test results confirm the initial diagnosis."
"He confirms his commitment by sending a signed contract."
Pronounce as /kənˈfɜːrmz/ in US English or /kənˈfɔːmz/ in UK/AU English. The key is stressing the second syllable: con-FIRMS. Start with the unstressed /kən/ and then a strong, rounded /ˈfɜːr/ (American) or /ˈfɔː/ (British/Australian) followed by /mz/ for the plural ending. Mouth posture: lips lightly rounded for the /ɔː/ vowel, with the tongue rising toward the palate for /ɜː/ in US; the /m/ is bilabial and the /z/ is a voiced sibilant made with a near-contact of the tongue tip to the alveolar ridge. Audio reference: listen to standard pronunciations on Pronounce, Cambridge, or Forvo to hear the exact contrast.
Two frequent mistakes: (1) Misplacing the stress on the first syllable (con-FIRMS vs CON-firms). (2) Slurring the final -s as /z/ or mispronouncing /ər/ as a reduced vowel. Correction: ensure the primary stress is on the second syllable: con-FIRMS, with a clear /ɜːr/ (US) or /ɔː/ (UK/AU) before the final /mz/. Practice the transition from /r/ or /ɔː/ to /mz/ by a quick, tight closing of the lips for /m/ and a precise alveolar contact for /z/.
In US English, /kənˈfɜːrmz/ with rhotics; the /ɜːr/ is a rhotic rhotacized vowel. In UK/AU, /kənˈfɔːmz/ with non-rhotic or reduced rhoticity; the second vowel is a long /ɔː/. The ending /mz/ remains voiced; the tongue position for /m/ is bilabial, for /z/ alveolar. The primary stress remains on the second syllable in all three, but the quality of the vowel in the stressed syllable shifts: US favors a more central mid vowel with rhotic coloring, while UK/AU favors a longer back vowel. When connected, Americans might add a slight /ɹ/ following the vowel before the /m/ depending on regional variation.
The difficulty centers on the two-phoneme sequence /ɜːr/ (US) or /ɔː/ (UK/AU) in the stressed syllable, followed by a rapid /mz/ cluster. The transition from a tense vowel to a voiced consonant cluster with /m/ and /z/ can blur in casual speech. Additionally, the final -s can be reduced to a /z/ sound or devoiced in fast speech depending on context. Precision in producing the vowel quality in the stressed syllable and then rapid, clear articulation of /m/ and /z/ is key.
Tip: Practice with a minimal pair pair like ‘conforms’ vs ‘confirms’ to hear the difference in initial vowel reduction and the consonant cluster at the end. Focus on distinct /ɜːr/ vs /ɔː/ in stressed syllable. Use slow pronunciation, then speed up while keeping the vowel color and the /mz/ ending precise. Record yourself and compare to a native model on Pronounce or Forvo to tune your mouth positions.
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- US: rhotic /ɜːr/ or /ɜr/; emphasize the rhotic quality, keep /ɹ/ audible before /m/; using IPA: /kənˈfɜːrmz/. - UK: non-rhotic tendencies; the stressed vowel leans toward /ɔː/; give it a longer, rounded quality; IPA: /kənˈfɔːmz/. - AU: similar to UK, but with subtle vowel narrowing and a stronger diphthong in /ɔː/. Mouth shapes: US tends to slightly retroflex the tongue; UK/AU promote a broader mouth opening in /ɔː/. - Practice with consistent mouth closing: ensure your lips seal for /m/ and then open to release into /z/.
Confirms derives from Latin confirmare, from con- 'together' + firmare 'to strengthen, fortify', from firmus 'strong'. In Latin, confirmare meant to make firm, establish. The Old French form confirmer entered English in the late medieval period with similar meaning: to make firm, to establish as true. By the 14th–15th centuries, English usage extended from physical firmness to epistemic certainty—i.e., to establish truth of a proposition. Through the Renaissance and into modern English, the sense broadened to include supporting or proving something beyond its literal firmness, and in contemporary English it commonly appears in legal, scientific, journalism, and casual speech as ‘to verify or corroborate.’ The verb’s spelling preserved the Latin root, while pronunciation shifted to align with English stress patterns. The third-person singular form adds -s, impacting rhythm and vowel reduction in connected speech. First known use in English citations appears in Middle English texts that borrowed from Norman scribal traditions, but the semantic shift toward verification likely solidified in early modern English with legal and scientific discourse. Today, ‘confirms’ operates in both formal and informal registers as a concise signal of validation or corroboration.
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Words that rhyme with "confirms"
-rms sounds
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