3 syllables: es, ti, mates. Stress on es.
ES-tuh-muhts
/ˈɛstəməts/
estimates is pronounced ES-tuh-muhts (/ˈɛstəməts/). It has three syllables (es-ti-mates), with the stress on "es". Estimates are approximate calculations of quantity, value, or extent derived from data or judgment. They reflect an informed, provisional figure rather than an exact amount, often used in planning or budgeting. The term spans finance, science, and everyday estimation tasks, indicating a best-guess value based on available information.
Estimates are approximate calculations of quantity, value, or extent derived from data or judgment. They reflect an informed, provisional figure rather than an exact amount, often used in planning or budgeting. The term spans finance, science, and everyday estimation tasks, indicating a best-guess value based on available information.
"The analysts provided three estimates for quarterly revenue."
"We raised an initial estimate of 50 attendees for the conference."
"The contractor submitted estimates after inspecting the site."
Estimates is pronounced /ˈestɪˌmeɪts/ in US and UK contexts, with primary stress on the first syllable and a secondary rise into the final diphthong. Break it into E-sti-mates: start with 'ES' as a short e, then a light 'ti' as in 'tin', and finish with 'mates' where the 'ate' sounds like 'late' without heavy emphasis. For many speakers, the final 's' is z-like in rapid speech; keep it as a soft 's' hissing rather than a hard 's' or a buzzing 'z'. Audio references can help confirm timing and sonority.
Two common errors: misplacing stress—saying 'esTI-mates' or 'esTImates' with a weak first syllable; and mispronouncing the middle cluster as 'est-ih-mates' with an uncertain vowel. Correct by placing strong primary stress on the first syllable: ES-tih-mates, and use a clear 'ɪ' in the second syllable, then glide to the 'meɪts' final syllable with a crisp 'meɪts' rather than a flat 'miːts'. Practice with a slow tempo to lock in the rhythm.
In US English, /ˈestɪˌmeɪts/ with rhotic influence minimal in the vowels; UK English tends toward /ˈestɪˌmeɪts/ but with less pronounced rhoticity and a slightly sharper final s; Australian English often features a higher, centralized vowel in the second syllable and a broader final diphthong in 'meɪts'. Overall, the main differences are vowel quality and the strength of the final syllable's consonant.
Two challenges: the 'ti' in the middle often lands as a quick, light schwa-like sound, which can blur into either 'ti' or 'tɪ' depending on speaker; and the final 'tes' can drift into 'tɪts' or 'mats' if the 'eɪ' is shortened. To master, practice a crisp 'ɪ' in the second syllable, then a clear 'meɪts' with minimal assimilation, keeping the final 's' unvoiced or softly voiced as context requires.
A key tip: segment as ES-tuh-mates, but shape the middle as 'tɪ' with a light 't' release before the long 'eɪ' glide. Keep the first syllable stressed and avoid converting the second syllable into a separate 'est-uh-mates' rhythm. Practicing with a mirror helps you monitor lip rounding and jaw openness for the 'ɪ' and 'eɪ' transitions.
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The noun estimate comes from the Middle English esten, via Old French estimer, ultimately from the Latin aestimare, meaning to value, appraise, or assess. The Latin root aestim- conveys perceived worth or value, connected to aestus (a heat, a surge) in some etymological branches, though the direct lineage here anchors in valuing quantities. In English, estimate began as a verb meaning to appraise value; by the 15th century it also functioned as a noun to denote a calculated approximation. Over time, the sense narrowed to reflect a conjectured quantity or cost, especially in business and government budgeting. The term matured into its modern usage: a reasoned, approximate figure used for planning in absence of exact data. Modern usage extends to various domains—engineering estimates, population estimates, cost estimates—retaining the core idea of an informed judgment rather than certainty.
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Words that rhyme with "estimates"
-tes sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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