2 syllables: fix, es. Stress on fix.
FIK-siz
/ˈfɪksɪz/
fixes is pronounced FIK-siz (/ˈfɪksɪz/). It has two syllables (fix-es), with the stress on "fix". A verb (and noun plural) meaning to repair or mend something, or a plural noun form of “fix.” In pronunciation, the /fɪksɪz/ form features a short, lax initial vowel, a voiceless labiodental fricative /f/, a crisp /k/ stop before the sibilant /s/ float, and a final voiced /z/ with z-voicing blending. The word commonly appears in present tense (he fixes) or as a noun plural (the fixes).
A verb (and noun plural) meaning to repair or mend something, or a plural noun form of “fix.” In pronunciation, the /fɪksɪz/ form features a short, lax initial vowel, a voiceless labiodental fricative /f/, a crisp /k/ stop before the sibilant /s/ float, and a final voiced /z/ with z-voicing blending. The word commonly appears in present tense (he fixes) or as a noun plural (the fixes).
"She fixes the leaky faucet before it becomes a bigger problem."
"The team implements several fixes to the software bug."
"They made minor fixes to the report after the review."
Pronounce as /ˈfɪk.sɪz/ in careful speech, with primary stress on the first syllable. The vowel in the first syllable is a short /ɪ/ as in kit; the /k/ is a crisp stop, not a /t/; the second syllable uses /sɪz/ where /z/ voices, often blending with the preceding /s/. In quick speech, you may hear /ˈfɪk.sɪz/ with a subtle reduction of the middle vowel. Audio reference: consult Cambridge/Forvo recordings for native speaker variants.
Common errors include pronouncing the middle vowel as /iː/ (freeze-like) and misplacing voicing on the final /z/ giving an /s/ sound instead of /z/. Some speakers also mispronounce the initial /f/ as a labiodental /v/ or add an unnecessary epenthetic vowel between /k/ and /s/. Correct by keeping /ɪ/ in the first vowel, producing a clean /k/ release into /s/ and voicing the final /z/ clearly for distinct sense.
US: clear /ˈfɪk.sɪz/ with strong /ɪ/ and pronounced /z/ end. UK: similar but with less rhotic influence; occasional subtle vowel length differences, still /ˈfɪk.sɪz/. AU: slight vowel height differences may produce marginally tenser /ɪ/ and faster /s/ to /z/ transition in connected speech. Overall, the rhyme and stress stay constant; main variance is vowel quality and voicing duration.
The difficulty lies in the quick consonant cluster /k.s/ adjacent to the final voiced /z/, requiring precise timing for a crisp /k/ release into /s/ and smooth voicing on /z/. Learners often mis-run the /ks/ as a single /x/ or mispronounce the final /z/ as /s/, losing voicing and clarity. Practice by isolating /k/–/s/ transition and focusing on a clean, voiceless to voiced shift.
Does 'fixes' ever reduce the first vowel in casual speech? In very fast casual speech you may hear a reduced first vowel in some dialects, yielding something like /ˈfɪk.səz/ or /ˈfɪks.ɪz/ with a slightly shorter middle vowel. However, careful speakers keep /ɪ/ crisp and avoid a schwa to maintain the word’s clarity, especially in technical contexts.
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Fixes derives from the verb “fix,” which comes from Middle English fixen, from Old English fixian meaning to fix or fasten. Its semantic journey broadened from fastening or attaching to repairing and stabilizing, then to determining or deciding on something (as in “to fix a time”). The -es ending marks third-person singular present tense or plural noun usage in English (e.g., he fixes; the fixes). The word’s evolution reflects the shift from physical affixation to repair and resolution, with the plural noun sense crystallizing in modern technical and everyday usage. First known use as “fix” in Old English, with cognates in Germanic languages, and later distinct -es pluralization and third-person conjugation solidified in Middle to Early Modern English. Over centuries, “fix” extended into domains like software debugging, schedules, and procedural adjustments, with “fixes” serving as both verb and noun in contemporary English.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "fixes" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "fixes" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "fixes"
-xes sounds
-ixs sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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