2 syllables: fix, tures. Stress on fix.
FIKS-churz
/ˈfɪkstʃɚz/
fixtures is pronounced FIKS-churz (/ˈfɪkstʃɚz/). It has two syllables (fix-tures), with the stress on "fix". Fixtures refers to items or installations that are permanently fixed in place, such as plumbing, lighting, or built-in fittings. It can also mean the time-fixings for events, or in sports, teams scheduled to play home games. In everyday use, it denotes permanent or semi-permanent fittings within a space or system. (2-4 sentences, ~60 words).
Fixtures refers to items or installations that are permanently fixed in place, such as plumbing, lighting, or built-in fittings. It can also mean the time-fixings for events, or in sports, teams scheduled to play home games. In everyday use, it denotes permanent or semi-permanent fittings within a space or system. (2-4 sentences, ~60 words)
- Common errors: (1) Splitting /ks/ and /tʃ/ into separate syllables or inserting a neutral vowel between them; (2) Weakening the final /z/ or making it inaudible; (3) Non-rhotic vowels in UK English causing a slightly different second syllable coloration. Correction tips: (1) Drill the /ks/ to /tʃ/ movement as a quick, single motion; (2) articulate the final /z/ clearly with voicing. (3) Practice with minimal pairs emphasizing the final voiced sibilant /z/ vs /s/ to feel vibration. - Practice step-by-step drills, then blend into phrases and sentences.
"The new fixtures in the kitchen include a stainless-steel sink and quartz countertops."
"The contract lists the fixtures that will remain with the property."
"Researchers studied the security fixtures that had been installed across campuses."
Pronounce as two syllables with primary stress on the first: /ˈfɪks.tʃərz/ (US) or /ˈfɪks.tʃəz/ (UK/AU). Start with a short, crisp /f/ then /ɪ/ as in kit, followed by /k/ and a weak /s/ before the /tʃ/ blend. The second syllable features /tʃərz/ in US and /tʃəz/ in UK/AU; keep the /r/ light in non-rhotic varieties. Ensure the /ks/ cluster remains tight before /tʃ/. Audio reference: consult Cambridge or Forvo for native pronunciations.
Common mistakes include: 1) Misplacing the /ks/ and /tʃ/ boundary, producing /fɪk.sərz/ or /fɪk.tʃərz/. 2) Reducing the second syllable too much, saying /ˈfɪks.tʃɚ/ with no final /z/. 3) Not voicing the final /z/ in plural form. Correction: keep /tʃ/ as a unit before the final /ər/ or /əz/; ensure your tongue transitions from the alveolar /t/ to palatal /tʃ/ cleanly and finish with /z/.
US: /ˈfɪks.tʃərz/ with a rhotic /r/ in the second syllable and a clear /ər/. UK/AU: /ˈfɪks.tʃəz/ with non-rhotic /ə/ or a reduced schwa in the second syllable and a set of final /z/ or /z/ color. The main difference lies in rhoticity and the vowel color of /ə/ in the second syllable. In fast speech, the /t/ and /tʃ/ cluster may blend more. Listen to native speakers in Pronounce or Forvo for subtle vowel quality differences.
The difficulty comes from the consonant cluster /ks/ followed by /tʃ/, which requires precise coordination: stop + fricative /k s/ then a quick transition to /tʃ/. The final /ər/ or /əz/ adds a rhotic-ish or schwa-colored vowel that may not exist in some accents. Mastery requires practicing the /t/ to /tʃ/ transition and the plural ending /z/. IPA detail: /ˈfɪk s t ʃ ər z/ with a clean /tʃ/ onset on the second syllable.
The unique issue is the /tʃ/ onset after the /ks/ cluster: the sequence /ks.tʃ/ must be tight and not allow an audible pause. Many speakers overly separate /ks/ and /tʃ/ or insert a vowel between them. Practice with slow repeats: /ˈfɪk.s tʃərz/ and then natural rhythm /ˈfɪks.tʃəz/ to ensure the /tʃ/ blends smoothly from /k/ via a brief alveolar release.
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- US: rhotic /r/ in the second syllable; second syllable often /ɚ/ or /ər/. Maintain a crisp /tʃ/ after /ks/. - UK/AU: non-rhotic tendency; second syllable often /əz/ or reduced /əz/; keep /tʃ/ clear but softer. - IPA references: US /ˈfɪks.tʃərz/ ; UK/AU /ˈfɪks.tʃəz/. - Vowel quality: US /ɪ/ as in kit; UK/AU can tilt toward /ɪ/ but with slightly shorter /ɪ/. - Consonants: focus on /ks/ cluster before /tʃ/; avoid inserting a vowel: keep it tight.
The word fixtures originates from the Old French word ficce (hook or fastener) and the Latin figere (to fix, fasten). In English, the sense evolved from tangible fasteners and attachments to include furniture and built-in elements that are attached permanently. By Middle English, fixtures referred to items attached to a property or structure, distinguishing them from movable goods. The legal and real estate usage solidified in the 17th-18th centuries, where fixtures meant items “attached” to land or buildings that pass with ownership. The plural form fixtures began to appear in the 17th century and came to denote a group of permanent fittings inside a space. Today, fixtures are understood as permanently installed items that are considered part of real estate, infrastructure, or a system, such as plumbing fixtures or light fixtures. The evolution shows a shift from physical fasteners to a broader category of integrated components within a built environment, retaining connotation of permanence and integration.
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Words that rhyme with "fixtures"
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