Contracts is a plural noun or verb form referring to legally binding agreements or the act of entering into such deals. In everyday use, it often appears in business or legal contexts, sometimes as a verb in third-person singular or plural forms. Pronunciation hinges on the plural noun stress pattern or the verb’s final -s sound, with careful attention to the first syllable and the /t/ cluster.
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- US: rhotic, vowels like /ɒ/ in CARE settings may shift toward /ɑ/; ensure /t/ is released before /s/. - UK: non-rhotic, watch for a slightly shorter /ɒ/ and crisper /t/; final /t/ can be more dental. - AU: similar to UK, with broader vowel quality and less flapping; keep /t/ crisp and final /ts/ distinct. IPA references: US /ˈkɒn.trækts/, UK /ˈkɒn.trækts/, AU /ˈkɒn.trækts/.
"The companies reviewed the contracts before signing."
"He contracts a charity that works overseas."
"The lawyers argued over the contract clauses in the contracts package."
"They contract with suppliers to ensure timely deliveries."
Contracts originates from the Latin word contractus, from contrahere meaning to draw together, bind, or compress. The Latin root contra- means against or together, and tractus derives from trahere, to pull or draw. In Medieval Latin, contractus referred to a binding agreement, a sense that evolved into Old French contrat and then Late Latin/English evolution as contract. By the 15th century English, contract began to refer specifically to a formal agreement or a written document. The plural contracts appeared as a natural grammatical extension in English to denote multiple such agreements or instances of binding arrangements. Over time, contract also took on a verb form (to contract) meaning to enter into an agreement, and later to shrink or become smaller in other contexts, though the legal sense remains dominant in modern usage. The word’s evolution reflects the legal and commercial sphere’s emphasis on precise commitments, with the plural form often signaling cross-border or multi-party engagements. First known use in English appears in legal texts of the late Middle Ages, aligning with the growth of standardized documents and contract law.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "contracts" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "contracts" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "contracts"
-cts sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ˈkɒn.trækts/ in US/UK English. The stress is on the first syllable: CON-tracts. The second syllable begins with the aspirated /t/ cluster, ending with the plural /s/ or /ts/ sound after /k/. Mouth positions: start with rounded lips for /ɒ/ in many accents, then move to a lower front vowel /æ/ for /trækt/. Audio references: you can compare with native samples on Forvo or YouGlish.
Two common errors: merging the /t/ and /r/ into a weak cluster (con-racts) or causing the final /ts/ to become a simple /s/ (con-traks). Correct by clearly releasing the /t/ into the /r/ segment and articulating the /t/ as a light, aspirated stop before /s/. Practice minimal pairs like CON-TRACTS vs CON-TRAKTS to feel the /t/ release and the final /ts/ blend.
In US, /ˈkɑn.trækts/ with rhotic r in other words; UK typically /ˈkɒn.trækts/ with a clearer /t/ and non-rhotic r, AU tends toward /ˈkɒn.trækts/ with similar non-rhotic rhotic behavior and vowel quality closer to British. The main differences are vowel quality in the first syllable and the final /ts/ articulation, reflecting broader rhotics and vowel shifts.
The difficulty lies in the /t/ followed by /r/ sequence and the final /ts/ cluster, which can blur in rapid speech. The first syllable vowel can vary between /ɒ/ and /ɑ/ depending on dialect, and the final /ts/ requires precise tongue-tip contact and a quick release. Paying attention to the /t/ release into /r/ and crisp /s/ helps prevent slurring or devoicing.
Yes—when used as a plural noun, stress remains on the first syllable (CON-tracts). When used as a verb in phrases like 'they contract', the stress shifts to the second syllable (con-TRACTS). The presence of a preceding word ending in a consonant can influence the tongue’s preparation for the /t/ release and the onset of /tr/ in the second syllable.
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- Shadowing: listen to a native speaker saying CON-tracts; imitate every phoneme, especially the /t/ release and /ts/ ending. - Minimal pairs: CON-tracts vs CON-TRAKTS (vowel), /kɒn/ vs /kæŋ/. - Rhythm: two-syllable word with primary stress on first syllable; practice with a drumbeat to align tempo. - Stress: keep initial syllable strong and ensure the second syllable receives secondary emphasis only in certain phrases. - Recording: record yourself saying contracts in sentences; compare to a lens sample to ensure the /t/ release and final /ts/ are crisp.
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