3 syllables: em, brace, s. Stress on brace.
/ɪmˈbɹeɪsɪz/
Say it backEmbraces is the third-person singular simple present form of embrace, or the plural noun meaning warm, affectionate acts. In usage, it can describe the verb action of holding someone closely or figuratively include, accept, or welcome ideas or changes. The word often appears in formal and informal contexts where warmth, acceptance, or inclusion is conveyed.
- You may over-treat the first syllable; ensure you keep it light (schwa-ish /ɪ/). Don’t over-articulate it. - The second syllable carries a diphthong /eɪ/; avoid an overly clipped /e/ or /iː/. Practice with /breɪ/ rather than /brɛs/. - The final -es is usually voiced /z/. If you’re reading carefully, avoid substituting /s/ or a fricative that sounds like /z/. Focus on a crisp, voiced end. - Common error: merging /ɪ/ with /z/; keep /ɪ/ distinct then voice the /z/. - Think of “embrace” with an added /z/ sound; don’t drop the /z/ or oversimplify. - Practice with minimal pairs to lock the second syllable: embrace vs embraces difference in final sound.
"She embraces her sister after the long separation."
"The policy embraces several new initiatives aimed at reducing waste."
"The company embraces innovation and encourages employee creativity."
Pronounce as /ɪmˈbreɪsɪz/ (US/UK/AU). The stress lands on the second syllable: em-BRAY-siz. Start with a light schwa-ish /ɪ/ in the first syllable, then /ˈbreɪ/ with the long A diphthong /eɪ/, and finish with /zɪz/ where the final -es is voiced as /ɪz/. Keep the /r/ only lightly released, and finish with a clear /z/ rather than a soft /s/. Audio reference: imagine a crisp, voiced end: embrace + -s.
Common mistakes include: 1) Misplacing stress, pronouncing em-BRACES with stress on the first syllable; 2) Using a short “ay” vowel in the second syllable (em-BRASS-iz) instead of the correct /eɪ/; 3) voiceless final -s (pronouncing /s/ instead of /z/). Correction: keep the second syllable as /breɪ/ with /eɪ/ and voice the final /z/ in /ɪz/. Practicing with minimal pairs like “bray- siz” and a short, crisp /z/ helps maintain voicing.
Across US/UK/AU, the core /ɪmˈbreɪsɪz/ remains consistent, but rhoticity and vowel timing vary. US tends to have a rhotic /r/ influence and slightly tighter final /z/. UK accents may feature a less prominent vowel length and subtler r-coloring in non-rhotic varieties; final /z/ remains voiced. Australian often merges some vowels in rapid speech, but /eɪ/ in /breɪ/ remains distinct; the final /z/ is typically voiced. Overall, the primary differences are rhythm and vowel realism rather than the core IPA.
The difficulty comes from the diphthong /eɪ/ in the second syllable and the voiced alveolar sibilant /z/ at the end, which can morph into a voiceless /s/ for some speakers. Also, maintaining stress on the second syllable while rapidly following with /ɪz/ requires precise pulmonic and tongue positioning. You’ll hear a clear, mid-to-high front vowel in /breɪ/ and a final voiced z that resonates in polite, careful speech.
There is no silent letter in embrAces. All letters contribute to the word’s pronunciation: the first syllable /ɪm/ has a short vowel, the second syllable /breɪ/ contains the vowel sound /eɪ/, and the final /s/ is often realized as a voiced /z/ when the noun/verb form is used in standard careful speech. The final -es is not silent; it carries voice in many dialects.
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- US: /ɪmˈbreɪ.sɪz/ with full /ɪ/ in the first syllable and a clear /eɪ/ in the second; final /z/ is typically strongly voiced. - UK: similar core, but you may hear less rhotic articulation; the /r/ is less pronounced except in rhotic contexts. Keep /breɪ/ distinct and final /z/ voiced. - AU: tends to have flatter vowel space; maintain the /eɪ/ diphthong and a clear /z/ end, but you’ll notice slightly different vowel quality due to Australian vowel shifts. IPA references: US/UK/AU /ɪmˈbreɪsɪz/; ensure voicing of final /z/.
Embraces traces to the Old French embracer, from es- in- adverbial prefix meaning in or on, plus bracer from bracer ‘to arm, brace, fortify,’ which is connected to the Latin pressare ‘to press, press upon.’ The term in English evolved from the notion of encircling or embracing physically to include figurative meanings like including, encompassing, or adopting ideas. The usage dates back to the Middle English period, with evidence of embracen in early texts, and solidified in modern English by the 16th-17th centuries as both a physical action of hugging and a metaphorical sense of acceptance or adoption. The noun form “embrace” appears in literary usage in the 14th century, and the verb form in the sense of including or containing in a broader scope followed over time. By the 19th and 20th centuries, “embraces” functioned in parallel as the third-person singular present verb and as the plural noun referring to affectionate embraces or comprehensive inclusions. Modern usage retains both senses in both everyday speech and formal writing, with the context signaling whether a physical hug or a figurative acceptance is intended.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "embraces" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "embraces"
-ses sounds
-ces sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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