4 syllables: e, mer, gen, cies. Stress on mer.
im-UR-juhn-seez
/ɪˈmɝdʒənsiz/
emergencies is pronounced im-UR-juhn-seez (/ɪˈmɝdʒənsiz/). It has four syllables (e-mer-gen-cies), with the stress on "mer". Emergencies refer to urgent, unforeseen events requiring immediate action or attention. They disrupt normal operations or safety, demanding rapid response and resources. The plural form encompasses multiple crises or situations needing prompt assessment and intervention.
Emergencies refer to urgent, unforeseen events requiring immediate action or attention. They disrupt normal operations or safety, demanding rapid response and resources. The plural form encompasses multiple crises or situations needing prompt assessment and intervention.
"The hospital is prepared for emergencies 24/7, with a dedicated triage team."
"During the storm, residents reported several medical emergencies to the hotline."
"The school conducted a drill to practice handling emergencies efficiently."
Pronounce as /ɪˈmɜː.dʒən. siz/ in US/UK practice; commonly spelled as ih-MUR-jən-seez. The primary stress is on the second syllable: e-MER-genci-es. Break into syllables: e-mer-gen-cies; ensure the middle is a clear /dʒ/ sound in ‘gen’. Lip rounding is relaxed; jaw drops slightly for the /ɜː/ vowel. For listeners, emphasize the /ˈɜːr/ with a short, crisp /dʒ/ following. In careful speech: /ɪˈmɜːr.dʒən.siːz/ with final /iːz/.
Common mistakes: misplacing stress on the first or last syllable (e-MER-gen-ci-es or e-mer-GEN-cies); mispronouncing the /dʒ/ as /tʃ/ (emergen- tions). Another frequent error is shortening the middle vowels or running the syllables together without the /ən/ schwa. Correct by emphasizing the second syllable with a clear /ɜː/ (or /ɜr/), articulating the /dʒ/ as in ‘genre’, and ensuring the final /z/ is unvoiced or lightly voiced. Practice: /ɪˈmɜːr.dʒən.iz/.
US: rhotic; pronounce /ɪˈmɜːr.dʒən.iz/ with clear r-coloring and /ɜːr/. UK: often non-rhotic, may sound /ɪˈmɜː.dʒən.ɪz/ with a lighter r or non-rhoticity; AU: similar to US but with broader /ɜː/ and clipped final /iz/. Pay attention to the /ɜː/ vowel quality and the /dʒ/ affricate; in some accents the middle /ə/ reduces more. The final z is voiced; keep it soft, not sibilant-heavy.
Difficult due to the cluster /ˈmɜːr.dʒən/: a delicate combination of a post-stress unstressed /ən/ followed by /iz/ or /iːz/. The /dʒ/ sound blends with neighboring vowels, and the second to last syllable often reduces, making the word feel longer. Additionally, plural ending /-iz/ can be mispronounced as /-z/ or /-s/; the voicing of final /z/ must be consistent. Practice maintaining stress on the second syllable while clearly articulating the /dʒ/.
A unique feature is the strong onset of the /dʒ/ after the /ɜːr/ cluster: ensure you release the affricate cleanly with a brief pause before the |ən| syllable; also keep the final /iz/ distinct, not merging into /iːz/ in rapid speech. The pubic action of the /ɜːr/ followed by /dʒ/ is crucial; ensure the middle sounds stay compact rather than dragging into the following syllables.
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The word emergencies derives from the French emergency, itself from the Latin emergent- (present participle of emergere ‘to rise up, come forth’), from e- (‘out’) + mergere (‘to dip, plunge’) in sense of something coming forth or rising to attention. The English adoption of emergency (late 16th century) captured a state of something arising that requires immediate action; the plural suffix -cies forms via standard Latinate pluralization. Emergence, emergent, and emergency share the same root, but emergency shifted to denote pressing situations that demand urgent care or action. The modern sense crystallized in the 19th–20th centuries as organized systems (military, medical, public safety) began formalizing responses to urgent incidents. The plural emergencies was reinforced in legal, medical, and safety contexts to refer to multiple urgent events, not just a single crisis. Over time, the word broadened from a general sense of rising to include the imperative of rapid, decisive intervention, with usage spanning hospitals, disaster management, and public safety communications. First known usage in English records aligns with the 18th–19th century expansion of “emergency” into medical and civic lexicons, reflecting the growth of organized response to urgent, unpredictable events.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "emergencies" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "emergencies"
-ies sounds
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