3 syllables: ex, cu, ses. Stress on cu.
/ɪkˈskjuːzɪz/
Say it backExcuses refers to reasons or explanations given to justify something, often implying a defense against blame or responsibility. In everyday use, it can function as a noun (plural of excuse) or, less commonly, as a verb form in phrases like you excuses yourself. It denotes attempted justification, sometimes perceived as flimsy or habitual, depending on context and speaker intent.
"She offered several excuses for arriving late to the meeting."
"The athlete’s excuses sounded hollow to the coach after a string of losses."
"Corporate policy allows for excuses only if supported by evidence."
US/UK/AU pronunciation centers on two syllables: ex- CUSE - es. IPA: /ɪkˈskjuːzɪz/. Start with a short /ɪ/ in the first syllable, then a clear /skjuː/ consonant blend where /s/ links to /kj/ and a long /uː/ in /juː/. The final /zɪz/ has a voiced /z/ followed by a weak /ɪ/ and final /z/. In rapid speech, the first vowel reduces slightly, but keep the /skjuː/ sequence distinct. Practice saying “excuse” with emphasis on the second syllable, then add the plural /əz/ to form /ɪkˈskjuːzɪz/.
Common mistakes: 1) Flattening the /juː/ into a simple /ju/ or /uː/ leading to /ˈɛksˌkjuzɪz/; keep /skjuː/ as a two‑part blend. 2) Misplacing stress, sounding like ex-CUSE-es with strong first syllable; maintain secondary stress on CUSE to reflect the natural rhythm. 3) Dropping the final /z/ or mispronouncing the final /ɪz/ as /ɪz/ vs /əz/; ensure a voiced /z/ followed by a schwa-like /ɪz/.
US tends to use a bright /ɪkˈskjuːzɪz/ with a crisp /ˈskjuː/ cluster and clear /zɪz/. UK often features a slightly shorter /juː/ and more clipped vowels, e.g., /ɪkˈskjuːzɪz/ with less diphthongal emphasis. Australian English similar to UK, but can show a broader vowel quality in /ɪ/ and a more relaxed /ɪz/. In all, rhoticity is minimal in non-rhotic varieties, but the /skjuː/ sequence remains a defining feature across accents.
Two main challenges: the /skjuː/ cluster requires precise blending of /s/ + /kj/ plus /juː/; many learners insert a separate /k/ or split the sequence, weakening the /skjuː/. The second challenge is the final /zɪz/ sequence; sustaining voice through /z/ and then smoothly transitioning to /ɪz/ can be tricky in connected speech. Focus on a single, continuous /skjuː/ glide and a steady /zɪz/.
A distinctive feature is the /skjuː/ blend following the initial /ɪk/. This consonant cluster includes a palatalized /k/ + /j/ transition before the long /uː/ sound. Keeping the /s/ soft and immediately moving into /kj/ helps maintain the right rhythm and prevents the /sk/ from being too abrupt. Emphasize the palatal approximant sound that links /k/ to /juː/.
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The word excuses comes from Middle French excuses, from Old French excuser, meaning to excuse or liberate from blame, itself derived from Latin excūsāre, ‘to free from blame,’ from ex- ‘out, away’ + causa ‘a cause, reason, charge’ (from Latin causa). In English, the noun form first appeared around the 15th century, initially conveying act of clearing someone from blame and, later, a justification or pretext. The sense shifted toward denoting reasons offered to palliate or defend a fault, and by the 17th–18th centuries, ‘excuse’ commonly referred to a stated reason given to avoid blame or obligation. The plural form ‘excuses’ reflects the ongoing use of the term in everyday discourse as a countable plural, often with a negative or dismissive connotation when used as reasons that sound insincere. The term has retained its core notion of justification but expanded into idiomatic expressions in modern English, including phrases like “make excuses,” “no excuses,” and “excuse me.”
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Words that rhyme with "excuses"
-ses sounds
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