One syllable: cures.
/ˈkjɝz/
Say it backCures is the plural noun or verb form of cure, meaning methods or actions that heal or remedy illness or injury. In medicine or everyday speech, it refers to treatments or remedies that restore health, or the act of preserving something from decay in the sense of preserving or repairing. The word is common, concise, and often part of collocations like “medical cures” or “new cures.”
"The doctor announced several promising cures for the disease."
"People search for cures rather than cures-alls, but skepticism remains about quick fixes."
"Researchers are testing potential cures in clinical trials."
Pronounce as two sounds: /kjʊrz/ in US and /kjʊəz/ in some Australian patterns, with the initial consonant cluster /kj/ like 'cue' + 'r' sound blends into a syllable with the final voiced s /z/. The stress falls on the single syllable word. Tip: start with a clear /k/ and glide to /j/ to form /kj/ before the /urz/. See audio references in dictionaries to hear the exact vowel length and final voicing.
Common errors include de-emphasizing the /j/ glide between /k/ and /r/, producing a simple /kɜrz/ or /kirs/ without the /j/ offglide, and misproducing the final /z/ as /s/ or a voiceless sound. Another frequent mistake is flattening the vowel so it sounds like /ɜː/ rather than the short /ɪ/ or /u/ quality combining with /rz/. Correction: insert a light /j/ after /k/ to form /kj/ and ensure the final is voiced /z/ by keeping vocal fold vibration.
In US English, /kjʊrz/ with a pronounced /u/ as in cue and a clear voiced /z/. UK English often renders the vowel closer to /jɔː/ possibilities and may feature a more rounded vowel before the /r/ where rhoticity is limited in non-rhotic accents; AU tends to keep the /z/ voicing but may have vowel adjustments influenced by Australian vowel shifts. Listen to native examples to hear precise vowel duration and the /r/ influence in connected speech.
Because it combines a consonant cluster /kj/ across the syllable boundary and a voiced final /z/ that can sound like /s/ in rapid speech. The /j/ offglide after /k/ can shorten the preceding vowel if spoken quickly, leading to mispronunciations like /kɜrz/ or /kjurz/ without clear /z/. Focus on maintaining the /j/ glide and ensuring the final voice is audible. Proper practice with IPA references helps.
Does the word 'cures' ever reduce syllable height or stress in fast speech? No—'cures' remains monosyllabic with a single stressed syllable, but in fast connected speech you may hear vowel shortening or a rushed glottal stop elsewhere. The key is to maintain the /kj/ onset, and the final /z/ voice distinctly, even in rapid speech.
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Cures derives from the Middle English word curen, from Old French curier meaning to cure or care for, with roots in the Latin cura meaning care, concern, or remedy. By the 13th century, English used cure to denote both healing and the act of preserving by salting or smoking. The plural cures and present-tense verb forms emerged as medical and surgical language expanded, aligning with Latin influences in scholarly writing. Over time, the nuance broadened from solely medical healing to include general remedies and even acts of preservation (as in curing meat). In modern usage, cures can imply a definitive heal or a form of treatment that effectively eliminates symptoms; in scientific discourse, it can contrast with palliative care or preventive measures. First known uses appear in medical texts and pharmacological treatises of the late medieval to early Renaissance periods, where “cure” signified a restoration of health and a remedy against disease. The semantic shift toward everyday remedy and metaphorical “cure” as solution has continued into contemporary language.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "cures" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "cures" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "cures"
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