3 syllables: en, for, ces. Stress on for.
en-FAWR-siz
/ɛˈnfɔɹsɪz/
enforces is pronounced en-FAWR-siz (/ɛˈnfɔɹsɪz/). It has three syllables (en-for-ces), with the stress on "for". Enforces is a verb meaning to compel observance of a rule, law, or obligation, typically through authority or enforcement mechanisms. It implies active application of rules to ensure compliance. The form enforces indicates third-person singular present tense or plural nouns depending on context in sentences.
Enforces is a verb meaning to compel observance of a rule, law, or obligation, typically through authority or enforcement mechanisms. It implies active application of rules to ensure compliance. The form enforces indicates third-person singular present tense or plural nouns depending on context in sentences.
"The city Council enforces zoning laws to maintain neighborhood character."
"The company enforces its privacy policy against data misuse."
"Local authorities enforce traffic regulations to reduce accidents."
It’s pronounced in-FOR-siz with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US/UK/AU: /ɪnˈfɔːr.sɪz/ (the r is rhotacized in US). Start with a short /ɪ/ or schwa-like sound, then a stressed /ˈfɔːr/ (often a long open-mid back vowel with r-coloring in rhotic accents), and end with /sɪz/ or /zɪz/. In careful speech you’ll articulate the final -s as a voiced /z/ after a voiced segment."
Common errors include misplacing the stress (saying en-FOR-ses) or mispronouncing the final consonant as an /s/ instead of /z/. People also shorten the middle vowel to a lax /ɪ/ or mispronounce /ɔː/ as a short /ɒ/. Correct by placing the main stress on the second syllable, keeping the middle vowel long in rhotic accents, and voiceing the final consonant as /z/. Practice the sequence /ɪn ˈfɔːr.sɪz/ ensuring the /r/ is pronounced if your accent uses rhoticity."
In US English, /ɪnˈfɔːr.sɪz/ features a rhotic /r/ in the stressed syllable and vowels may be more tense. UK English often has a shorter /ɔː/ and a less pronounced /r/ (non-rhotic realisation except before vowels). Australian English tends to have a broad /ɔː/ similar to UK, with a clearer /r/ only in rhotic pronunciation. Overall, US tends to be more rhotic; UK typically non-rhotic; AU lies between with some rhotic tendencies depending on speaker and region. Listen for the vowel length and final /z/ voice."
Because it blends a stressed central syllable with a voiced final consonant cluster, the mouth needs to transition quickly from a high front /ɪ/ to a mid-back /ɔː/ with an r-colored vowel, then into a voiced /z/ sound. The presence of /z/ after a consonant cluster can cause devoicing in rapid speech. Also, the /n/ at the start can create a nasal onset that affects the tongue position for the following vowel. Focusing on the /ˈfɔːr/ sequence and maintaining voicing in the final /z/ helps clarity."
No, enforces does not have silent letters in standard pronunciation. All letters contribute to the pronunciation: the initial /ɪ/ or /ɪn/, the stressed /ˈfɔːr/, the /s/ in the middle, and the final /z/. The middle 'r' can be subtle or dropped in non-rhotic accents, but in most pronunciations the /r/ coloring affects the preceding vowel. Ensure you pronounce the final /z/ rather than a voiceless /s/ for natural speech.
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Enforces derives from the verb enforce, which traces to Middle English enforcen from Old French enforcer (to compel, enforce, enforce law) from en- (in, into) + force (strength, power). The root force comes from Latin fortis (strong) via Old French force. The sense development moved from ‘to compel by force’ to ‘to compel compliance with rules or laws’ by the 14th century. The suffix -es marks third-person singular present or plural noun usage, aligning with English verb conjugation patterns and adding the habitual sense of “it enforces” rather than a passive state. First known use recorded in legal and administrative contexts in the late Middle Ages, where authorities began codifying rules and describing how officers enforce those rules. Over time, the term broadened from physical coercion to include administrative, bureaucratic, and policy-based enforcement in daily governance, civil liberties, and organizational compliance. In modern usage, it commonly collocates with policies, laws, regulations, and guidelines across legal, governmental, corporate, and educational domains, signaling active application and oversight rather than mere existence of rules.
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Words that rhyme with "enforces"
-ses sounds
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