FUR-nuhs-iz
/ˈfɝˌnʌsɪz/
furnaces is pronounced FUR-nuhs-iz (/ˈfɝˌnʌsɪz/). Furnaces is the plural of furnace, referring to enclosed structures or devices that generate heat, such as for melting or heating. In everyday use, it denotes multiple heating units or kilns, indoors or industrially. The term appears in technical and domestic contexts and carries a formal, somewhat specialized register.
Furnaces is the plural of furnace, referring to enclosed structures or devices that generate heat, such as for melting or heating. In everyday use, it denotes multiple heating units or kilns, indoors or industrially. The term appears in technical and domestic contexts and carries a formal, somewhat specialized register.
- Confusing the first syllable with a quick /ɜ/ or a dull /ɜː/; ensure the /ɜːr/ quality is maintained before the /nə/ transition. - Not reducing the second syllable to a schwa; keep /nə/ rather than /neɪ/ or /niː/. - Inadequate voicing of the final /z/—make sure your vocal cords vibrate. Practice with minimal pairs: /ˈfɜːr.nə.zɪz/ vs /ˈfɜːnə.siz/ (incorrect stops).
"The factory upgraded its furnaces to improve efficiency."
"She cleaned the kitchen furnaces to remove soot."
"Old furnaces must be inspected yearly for safety."
To pronounce furnaces, stress the first syllable: /ˈfɜːr.nə.sɪz/ in US/UK styles, with a clear r-colored vowel in the first syllable. The second syllable is a schwa: /ə/. The final syllable carries a light /z/ plural suffix: /əz/. In phonetic form: US: /ˈfɜːr.nə.sɪz/, UK: /ˈfɜː.nə.sɪz/, AU: /ˈfɜː.nə.sɪz/. Think “FUR-nuh-serz,” with the second vowel reduced and the ending voiced z.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress (saying /ˈfər.nə.sez/), pronouncing the second syllable as full /eɪ/ instead of a neutral schwa, and not voicing the final /z/ adequately. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, use a relaxed /ə/ in the second, and finish with a clear, voiced /z/. Recording yourself can help you hear the subtle /s/ to /z/ transition.
In US and UK, the first syllable features an /ɜː/ or /ɜr/ rhotic vowel, with rhoticity strong in US; Australian tends to a similar /ɜː/ but with less rhoticity in some speakers, and vowel quality slightly changed by non-rhotic tendencies in parts of Australia. The final /z/ remains voiced across accents. Emphasis remains on the first syllable in all three, with subtle vowel length differences.
The challenge lies in the sequence of three phonemes: an initial stressed rhotic vowel /ɜː/ or /ɜr/ followed by a reduced /nə/ sequence and the voiced final /z/. The middle syllable reduces to a schwa /ə/, which can cause mispronunciation as a full vowel. Additionally, distinguishing /z/ from /s/ at the end requires careful voicing. Practice the transition from /ɜːr/ to /nə/ to ensure smooth linking.
Yes. In rhotic accents, the /ɜːr/ sequence links the r-coloring into the vowel, creating a glide-like return to the following /n/. You’ll hear a subtle /ɹ/ coloring the nucleus of the first syllable before moving into /nə/. In non-rhotic accents, the r is not pronounced in postvocalic position, so the /ɜː/ remains pure; the linking to /nə/ still occurs but without rhotic coloring.
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US: rhotic, strong /ɹ/ coloring; UK and AU: more vowel variation, non-rhotic tendencies in some speakers, final vowel quality can be more clipped. Vowel length differences: US often holds the /ɜː/ longer; UK may be shorter in rapid speech. The final /z/ is voiced in all, but voicing can be affected by surrounding consonants in rapid speaking. IPA references to guide mouth shapes: /ˈfɜːr.nə.zɪz/ US, UK, AU variations share core features but with subtle vowel quality changes.
Furnace comes from Middle English furnes, from Old French fournaise, from Latin furnus meaning oven or kiln, originally referring to an oven or hearth. The sense expanded to any enclosed chamber used for heating to high temperatures, including metalworking and glassworks. In English, furnace also implied industrial heating facilities, soon distinguished from domestic stoves. The plural furnaces appears in Middle English as furnaces and later standardized in Early Modern English with the regular -es plural. The word’s semantic field broadened with the Industrial Revolution, where large stationary units for heat treatment, metal smelting, and steam-generated processes became common. By the 19th and 20th centuries, furnaces denoted both household ovens and large industrial installations, often described with adjectives like coal-fired or electric, and in technical writing as equipment or apparatus. First known uses appear in manuscript records during the 14th–15th centuries, with English adoption of French influence strengthening the spelling and pronunciation, leading to the modern forms furnace (singular) and furnaces (plural) in contemporary usage.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "furnaces" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "furnaces"
-ses sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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