ik-STING-gwish-urz
/ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃɚz/
extinguishers is pronounced ik-STING-gwish-urz (/ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃɚz/). Extinguishers are devices or substances used to put out fires, typically portable and designed to operate in emergencies. They come in various types, such as water, foam, dry chemical, and CO2, each suited to different classes of fire. The term covers both the equipment and the act of applying the extinguishing agent to suppress flames.
Extinguishers are devices or substances used to put out fires, typically portable and designed to operate in emergencies. They come in various types, such as water, foam, dry chemical, and CO2, each suited to different classes of fire. The term covers both the equipment and the act of applying the extinguishing agent to suppress flames.
"The fire drill showed how to check the extinguishers to ensure they’re ready for use."
"He grabbed the nearest extinguishers and aimed it at the base of the fire."
"Building code requires clearly labeled extinguishers on every floor."
Extinguishers is pronounced ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃərz in US English (stress on the second syllable: stɪŋ). In UK English you’ll hear ɪksˈtɪŋɡwɪʃəz, with a light schwa in the final syllable and non-rhoticity affecting the r. Start with the weak form of ‘ex’ as /ɪk/ or /ɪks/, then /ˈtɪŋɡwɪʃ/ followed by /ərz/ or /əz/. Mouth positions: initial /ɪ/ high-front lax, /k/ back of tongue, /ˈtɪŋ/ alveolar stop + velar nasal, /ɡwɪ/ velar + bi-labial glide + short /i/, /ʃ/ post-alveolar fricative, then /ər/ or /əz/ with a neutral vowel in the final syllable.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (saying ex-TING-wishers by stressing the wrong syllable) and mispronouncing /ɡwɪ/ as /ɡwɪ/ or confusing /ʃərz/ with /ʃərz/ variants. Correct by keeping the primary stress on the second syllable: ex-TING-gwish-ers, ensuring the /tɪŋ/ cluster is clearly blown out before the /ɡwɪ/ sequence, and finishing with a clear /ərz/ (US) or /əz/ (UK) without adding an extra syllable.
US tends to maintain /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃərz/ with rhotic /r/ in US. UK often has /ɪksˈtɪŋɡwɪʃəz/ with non-rhotic /r/ and a lighter final /əz/. Australian approximates US rhythm but with broader vowels and a slightly more tapped or rolled /r/ in some speakers; in practice Australians use /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃəz/ with a relaxed /ɪ/ and a rounded /ɒ/ influence in some regions.
The difficulty lies in the initial consonant cluster transitioning from /k/ to /t/ and the /tɪŋɡwɪ/ sequence, plus the final /ərz/ vs /əz/ depending on accent. The /t/ blends into /ɡ/ quickly and the /ɡw/ cluster requires a precise brief lip closure to avoid an unintended /d/ or /kw/ sound. Also the unstressed carrier in ex- can be reduced, leading to misalignment of stress on the second syllable.
Yes—note the plural form ends with -ers, pronounced as /-ərz/ in US or /-əz/ in UK/ AU variants. The middle syllable contains the /ŋɡw/ sequence and the /ʃ/ before the final vowel; speakers often shorten the middle vowel or merge /ɪŋɡwɪ/ into /ɪŋɡwɪ/ when rapid speech occurs. Practice emphasizing the /ˈtɪŋɡwɪ/ segment to avoid sounding like /ˈtɪŋɡwɪtʃəz/.
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Extinguishers derives from the verb extinguish, itself from Middle English extintuishen, from Latin exstinguere, combining ex- ‘out’ + stinguere ‘to quench, to extinguish,’ related to stinguere ‘to quench, to weaken.’ The noun form extinguish + -er denotes a device or agent that performs the act of extinguishing. The use of extinguish in references to fires emerges in the 16th–17th centuries as firefighting terminology expanded with mechanical devices. The concept of an extinguisher as portable, purpose-built equipment for suppressing fires becomes prominent in the 19th and 20th centuries, paralleling the rise of organized fire safety and building codes. First known uses appear in technical manuals and insurance literature describing devices designed to apply agents to fires, evolving into modern classification of extinguishers by agent and fire class. The plural form extinguishers reflects the common practice of devices being multiple on-site, reinforcing safety protocols in public spaces, workplaces, and vehicles.
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Words that rhyme with "extinguishers"
-ers sounds
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