2 syllables: cross, es. Stress on cross.
/ˈkɹɔsɪz/
Say it backCrosses is a plural noun or verb form meaning lines or objects that pass over or intersect something, or the act of making the Sign of the Cross. It denotes multiple crossing points or ceremonial motions, and is commonly used in sports, religion, and navigation contexts. The word shifts subtly in meaning with context, from physical intersections to symbolic gestures.
"The street crosses near the old library create a busy intersection."
"She crosses her fingers for good luck before the exam."
"He crosses the river on a narrow wooden bridge."
The pronunciation is /ˈkrɒ-sɪz/ in US/UK/AU. Primary stress on the first syllable: CROS-ses. Clear /kr/ onset, with a rounded open-mid back vowel in the first syllable in non-rhotic accents still keeps /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ quality depending on accent. The second syllable uses a short /ɪ/ (as in 'kit') followed by a voiced /z/ - ensure final /z/ is not devoiced in careful speech. In connected speech, you can link to the next word with a light, almost unreleased /s/ if the following word begins with a consonant.
Common errors include reducing the first syllable: pronouncing it as /krɔs/ or /krɒs/ without the second syllable, and misarticulating the final /z/ as /s/ or /ɪz/. To correct: keep the /ɒ/ quality in the first vowel (or /ɑ/ in some accents) and release a clear, voiced /z/ in the second syllable. Avoid syllabic reduction that makes the second syllable disappear; keep /ɪz/ clearly audible. Practice with minimal pairs like crosses vs. crosses (with a nasal “s” at end) and record to verify the presence of voice on the final consonant.
In US/UK/AU, the initial /kr/ cluster remains, but vowel quality in the first syllable can shift: US often favors a broader /ɒ/ or /ɑ/; non-rhotic UK accents may drop the rhotic approximations, but the /ɹ/ in /kr/ is retained in broad rafters. The final /z/ remains voiced across accents. Australian English tends to have a slightly more centralized vowel in the first syllable, with similar rhotic behavior to US, while some British accents produce a more clipped second syllable with less vowel length. Overall, stress remains on the first syllable, with minimal variation in the final /z/ voicing.
Two key challenges: keeping the unstressed second syllable crisp and voicing the final /z/ distinctly. The /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ vowel in the first syllable is sensitive to speaker’s vowel inventory, and the /s/ transition in the middle can lead to a /s/ or /z/ confusion if the voice onset time is not synchronized. Also, the /ɹ/ in /kr/ can be difficult in some non-rhotic accents where linking or linking with r can change the perceived sound. Practicing with minimal pairs and recording helps stabilize these details.
A unique aspect is the final consonant cluster: /-ɪz/ after a sibilant. Maintaining a distinct, voiced /z/ after the /ɪ/ requires keeping the vocal folds engaged rather than letting the /z/ become a voiceless /s/. This affects rhythm alignment and syllable timing, especially in rapid speech. Also, the first syllable’s vowel quality changes subtly by accent, which can mislead learners into misplacing the tongue or jaw.
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Crosses derives from the verb cross, from Old English cros, from Latin crux, crucis, meaning a structure or device for crucifixion and later symbol of Christianity. The plural crosses emerges in Middle English to denote multiple instances of crossing or multiple cruciform symbols. The sense of “lines or routes that cross” predates electronic mapping and appears in geographic and architectural terminology. The religious sense (sign of the cross) solidified in Christian usage, with medieval Latin crux becoming cruc- in vernacular forms, and then English cross extending to plural crosses for both nouns and verbs. The word’s transference from a physical cross or crossbar to the act of crossing (to cross a line, to cross oneself) reflects a semantic broadening typical of Germanic-origin terms borrowed into Romance-influenced vocabularies. First known uses appear in Old and Middle English religious and navigational texts, with clear attestations of crosses in civic and ceremonial contexts by the 14th century, and as a plural noun in standard varieties by the early modern period. Modern uses cover geometry (crossroads), sports (crosses in routes or scoring), and symbolism (the cross as a religious emblem) across global English usage.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "crosses" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "crosses" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "crosses"
-ses sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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