3 syllables: de, part, ures. Stress on part.
/dɪˈpɑrtʃɚz/
Say it backDepartures is the plural of departure, referring to acts or instances of leaving a place, especially in travel or transportation contexts. It denotes the action itself as a process or event and can also describe the places or times where departures occur. In usage, it often appears in schedules, announcements, and travel reporting, signaling an exit or beginning of a journey.
"The departures board showed several international flights delayed by weather."
"There were two quiet departures from the platform before the train finally pulled away."
"Her departures from the city were scheduled for early mornings to avoid crowds."
Pronounce as /dɪˈpɑːrtʃərz/ in US and UK general speech, with stress on the second syllable. Start with a short 'd' + a reduced 'i' (as in 'dip'), then a clear /ˈpɑːrtʃ/ cluster where the 't' blends into the following 'r'. End with a voiced sibilant /z/ or /ərz/ depending on the speaker. Audio references: you can verify on pronouncing dictionaries or resources such as Forvo or YouGlish by searching 'departures' in American, British, or Australian contexts.
Two frequent errors: (1) turning /ˈpɑːrtʃ/ into /paːtʃ/ without the /r/; keep the rhotic /r/ in rhotic accents. (2) misplacing the schwa in the final syllable, saying /dɪˈpɑːrtʃəz/ too weakly; ensure the final /ərz/ or /əz/ has a clear, voiced sibilant. Correction: maintain the second-syllable /ˈpɑːrtʃ/ and finalize with /ərz/ or /əz/. Throughout, keep the 't' light so it blends with /ʃ/ into /tʃ/ before /ərz/.
In US English, /dɪˈpɑːrtʃərz/ with rhotic /r/ and final /ərz/. UK tends toward non-rhoticity in many varieties, giving /dɪˈpɑːtʃəz/ with a less pronounced /r/; final vowel may be weaker. Australian generally rhymes closer to US but with a flatter /ɜː/ or /ə/ in /ərz/, and a non-strong rhotic /r/ depending on speaker. Across all, the middle /pɑːrtʃ/ cluster remains the biggest anchor; ensure the /r/ or its absence does not disrupt the /tʃ/ sequence.
Because it combines a stressed open syllable with a dense consonant cluster /pɑːrtʃ/ containing /r/ and /tʃ/, followed by a plural ending /ərz/ or /əz/. English learners often misplace the /r/ guard between /p/ and /tʃ/ or merge /t/ and /r/ into /dr/; another challenge is producing a clear /tʃ/ before the vowel of the final syllable. Focus on keeping the /t/ light and pronouncing /tʃ/ as a single affricate rather than two separate sounds, then finish with a crisp /z/ or /əz/.
A useful tip is to practice the sequence 'di-PAR-chers' to anchor the rhythm, then replace 'chars' with the proper /tʃərz/ or /tʃəz/ ending. Keep the middle /pɑːrtʃ/ steady and avoid inserting extra vowel between /t/ and /ʃ/. Use minimal pairs like 'depart' vs 'departure' to feel the added syllable and the plural suffix.
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US:Rhotic /r/ is pronounced; middle syllable /ɪˈpɑːrtʃ/ is emphasized; final /ərz/ pronounced briskly with a clear /z/. UK: Non-rhotic tendency; /r/ is less pronounced or silent in many varieties; expect /ˈdɪˈpɑːtʃəz/ or /ˈdɪˈpɑːtʃəz/ with weaker /r/; AU: Typically rhotic but with a softer, flatter /ɜː/ or /ə/ in /ərz/; keep the /tʃ/ solid and the final /z/ crisp. Vowel quality shifts: US often closer to /ɑː/, UK may be broader /ɒ/ or /ɑː/. IPA anchors: US /dɪˈpɑːrtʃərz/, UK /dɪˈpɑːtʃəz/, AU /dɪˈpɑːtʃəz/.
The word departures derives from the verb depart, which comes from Old French partir, itself from Latin partire meaning to divide, part or separate. The noun form “departure” entered English via Middle English, with early senses tied to the act of leaving or setting out. Over time, its usage broadened to calendar and timetable contexts, particularly in travel and logistics where “departures” label schedules for trains, flights, ships, or buses. The plural form emphasizes multiple instances or events of leaving, rather than a single departure. The semantic field tracks with related terms such as arrivals, departures boards, and flight schedules, reflecting a grimly practical lexicon used in transportation hubs. First attested senses in print align with late medieval to early modern English usage when travel expanded across oceans and railways, necessitating precise terms for outbound movements. Modern usage treats departures as both a process (the act of leaving) and a set of scheduled events (departures times). The evolution mirrors the growth of global travel, logistics, and timetable standardization, with “departures” becoming a common, calendar-like label in airports and stations worldwide.
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Words that rhyme with "departures"
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