2 syllables: Fath, oms. Stress on Fath.
FATH-uhmz
/ˈfæðəmz/
Fathoms is pronounced FATH-uhmz (/ˈfæðəmz/). It has two syllables (Fath-oms), with the stress on "Fath". Fathoms (plural noun) refers to large depths of water, typically measured in fathoms, a unit equal to six feet. The word also appears figuratively to mean a great amount or extent of something. In nautical contexts, it denotes depth below the surface; in broader use it signals substantial measure or extent in various domains.
nounFathoms (plural noun) refers to large depths of water, typically measured in fathoms, a unit equal to six feet. The word also appears figuratively to mean a great amount or extent of something. In nautical contexts, it denotes depth below the surface; in broader use it signals substantial measure or extent in various domains.
"The ship sank to depths of eight fathoms."
"Divers explored down to 30 fathoms with careful air management."
"They couldn't fathom the hidden cave’s depth, even with sonar."
Pronounce as /ˈfæ.θəmz/ (US) or /ˈfæð.əmz/ (UK). The primary stress falls on the first syllable: FAT- with a soft th as in think, and an unstressed second syllable that ends with -əmz. In simple terms, say FA-thums (th as in thin); the final -z is voiced. You’ll want the mouth ready for a short æ then a light /θ/ and a quick schwa-like /ə/ before the final /m/ + /z/. Audio reference: use a reputable dictionary audio or Pronounce for a clear imprint of the /ˈfæθəmz/ sequence.
Common errors: 1) Over-aspirating the second syllable leading to /ˈfæθɛmz/; 2) Substituting /ð/ with /d/ or /t/, producing /ˈfætσmz/ or /ˈfæθdəmz/; 3) Incorrect final z as /s/ or voiceless /z/. Correction: maintain a voiced final /z/ after the /m/; keep /θ/ as a clear interdental fricative, not a t-sound substitute, and keep the first vowel as /æ/ for stability in both US/UK. Practice with minimal pairs: fat(h)ums vs fathoms to stabilize /θ/ and final /z/.
US tends to maintain /ˈfæθəmz/ with clear /æ/ and a slightly higher, tenser /æ/; UK often features /ˈfæð.əmz/ with a flatter, more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable; Australian tends toward /ˈfath.əmz/ with a softer /ə/ and less pronounced /θ/ depending on speaker. Rhoticity mostly affects the linking of vowels rather than the core consonants here; the /θ/ remains a distinct interdental fricative in all three, though some speakers may substitute a dentalized /t/ or /d/ in rapid speech. IPA references help track precise deviations.
The difficulty centers on the interdental /θ/ and the cluster of /θ/ + /ə/ + /m/ in quick speech, plus ensuring the final /z/ is voiced in connected speech. Speakers often substitute /θ/ with /f/ or /t/ or merge the second syllable with the first, producing /ˈfæth/ or /ˈfæθs/. Achieving precise positioning of the tongue between teeth for /θ/ and maintaining voicing for /z/ after a nasal is essential. Slow practice with repetitions helps fix the phonetic sequence.
Some learners wonder if the plural ending remains /-z/ as in /-z/ after a voiced consonant. In fathoms, the final /z/ is indeed voiced after the nasal /m/ in most dialects (US/UK/AU). The word’s plural form maintains the /z/ sound when the noun ends with a voiced consonant or vowel nucleus, but the /m/ before it can affect the transition. Focus on the /m/ nasal release into the /z/ to produce a smooth final syllable, as in /ˈfæθəmz/.
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Fathom comes from Old English fathm, meaning an outstretched arm span or an arm-length measure of distance. The term was repurposed by sailors to describe the nautical unit equal to six feet (approximately 1.8288 meters) because ropes (leads) were measured by hand-span while lowered to determine depth. The modern plural fathoms reflects its continued use in depth measurement: depths of water are described in fathoms, while the term broadened into metaphorical senses such as understanding or comprehending “the depths” of a topic. The earliest known written usage dates to Middle English maritime texts, where navigators noted fathoms to gauge safe channels and seabed features. Over centuries, “fathom” evolved from a physical measuring unit to a figurative reach of comprehension, as in “I can’t fathom the meaning,” while still retaining its nautical association in contexts like divers and ships. In contemporary English, “fathoms” is primarily used in nautical or literary contexts, with occasional metaphorical application in research, depth of feeling, or complexity.
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Words that rhyme with "Fathoms"
-oms sounds
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