2 syllables: ga, ges. Stress on ga.
GAY-jiz
/ˈɡeɪdʒɪz/
gages is pronounced GAY-jiz (/ˈɡeɪdʒɪz/). It has two syllables (ga-ges), with the stress on "ga". Gages is a plural noun or verb form related to gauge, meaning instruments for measuring or the act of judging or estimating something. In plural noun sense, it refers to multiple measuring devices or standards. As a verb (third-person singular of gauge), it means to measure or estimate something indirectly. The term carries technical or formal connotations depending on context, often found in engineering, surveying, or evaluative discussions.
Gages is a plural noun or verb form related to gauge, meaning instruments for measuring or the act of judging or estimating something. In plural noun sense, it refers to multiple measuring devices or standards. As a verb (third-person singular of gauge), it means to measure or estimate something indirectly. The term carries technical or formal connotations depending on context, often found in engineering, surveying, or evaluative discussions.
- You may flatten the /eɪ/ into a short /e/ sound; keep the long A for the first syllable. - Don’t merge /dʒ/ with a preceding consonant; ensure a clean /dʒ/ onset after /eɪ/. - Final /ɪz/ should be light and rapid; avoid a heavy vowel or extra syllable. - In rapid speech, avoid inserting an extra vowel between /d/ and /ʒ/; keep the affricate timing tight to prevent a /d/ followed by /ʒ/ blend. - When reading aloud, avoid trailing intonation after the final /z/; end with a short, crisp /ɪz/.
"The engineer installed several gages to monitor pressure changes in the pipeline."
"She gages the crowd's reaction before deciding how to proceed with the speech."
"The report gages the potential market by analyzing consumer surveys and benchmarks."
Pronounced /ˈgeɪdʒɪz/ in US/UK/AU. The first syllable has a long A as in 'gate', the second is a soft /dʒ/ like 'judge', and the final /ɪz/ mirrors a short, unstressed vowel plus z. Use a crisp onset before /dʒ/ and end with a light, quick /ɪz/ to keep the plural/verb form clear.
Common errors include pronouncing the second syllable as /dʒeɪ/ or turning it into /geɪdʒ/ with reversed consonant order, and misplacing the stress so it sounds like /geɪdʒɪ/ or /ɡeɪdʒɪz/ with extra emphasis. Another frequent fault is merging the /dʒ/ with the preceding vowel too quickly, producing a blurred onset. Focus on a clean /dʒ/ release after /eɪ/ and keep the final /ɪz/ crisp.
In US/UK/AU, the initial /geɪ/ is consistent with /ˈgeɪ/; the main difference is rhoticity and vowel length in surrounding words. The /ɡ/ remains a hard stop; some UK speakers may have a tensity in the /ɪ/ before /z/ when in rapid speech. Australians often maintain clear /eɪ/ and a slightly lighter /dʒ/ release. Overall, the vowel quality is similar, with minor rhotic variability when in connected speech.
The challenge lies in the /dʒ/ affricate linked to a stressed syllable and the final /ɪz/. The mouth must transition quickly from a tense /eɪ/ vowel into the /dʒ/ without swallowing, then end with a precise /ɪz/. This is especially tricky in connected speech where speed blurs the /dʒ/ release or merges the final syllable. Training with minimal pairs helps solidify this sequence.
The plural noun sense sometimes appears as gages in technical contexts and is often confused with gauges. The key is to pronounce the same /ˈgeɪdʒɪz/ form with a clear /ɡ/ onset and a crisp /dʒ/ release. If used as a verb (to gauge), the pronunciation remains /ɡeɪdʒ/, but the third-person singular adds /-ɪz/ in many forms. The distinction matters in reading favored by engineers and machinists.
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- US: clear, rhotic-friendly vocal quality; keep /ɪ/ in the final cluster light; maintain crisp /dʒ/ release. - UK: slight rounding on /eɪ/ and a more forward tongue position for /dʒ/; ensure non-rhoticity in connected speech while preserving the /ɡ/ closure. - AU: relaxed jaw position; maintain sharp /dʒ/ with a slightly longer vowel before it; ensure final /ɪz/ does not become /ɪzɪs/ by keeping the tongue tip light.
Gages derives from gauge, which originates from the Old French gage, meaning a pledge or guarantee, and from Latin vadium, meaning a pledge or guarantee, reflecting the sense of a standard against which something can be measured or trusted. The word gauge itself comes via Old North French gage/gaige and Middle English gage, with early senses tied to a pledge or a measuring tool. Over time, gauge evolved to denote devices that measure or estimate quantity, size, or capacity, and then extended metaphorically to mean to judge or assess. The plural form gages appears in modern English in both noun and verb senses (he gages vs. gages). First known uses appear in 14th–15th centuries in technical contexts (measurement and surveying) and in the 17th–18th centuries in general usage for “to measure” or “to estimate.” The evolution reflects the shift from concrete measuring tools to abstract estimation, while retaining the core sense of evaluation against a standard. In current technical usage, gages often refer to calibrated instruments used in manufacturing, engineering, and quality control.
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Words that rhyme with "gages"
-ges sounds
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