One syllable: gas.
gas
/ɡæs/
gas is pronounced gas (/ɡæs/). It has one syllable (gas), with the stress on "gas". Gas refers to a state of matter that expands to fill its container. It also denotes a fuel used for heating, cooking, or powering engines. In everyday speech, gas can mean the substance in breath or the gaseous form of a substance, and informally, it can be used as a casual exclamation or to describe exciting or energetic people or events.
Gas refers to a state of matter that expands to fill its container. It also denotes a fuel used for heating, cooking, or powering engines. In everyday speech, gas can mean the substance in breath or the gaseous form of a substance, and informally, it can be used as a casual exclamation or to describe exciting or energetic people or events.
"The gas in the tank is almost empty, so we should refuel soon."
"He turned on the stove and lit the gas."
"The market is volatile and gas prices are rising."
Pronounce it as /ɡæs/. The initial g is a hard gag consonant made with the back of the tongue against the soft palate, followed by the open front unrounded vowel /æ/ as in “cat,” and a short /s/ at the end. The main stress falls on the single syllable, so keep it brisk and concise: /ɡæs/. In connected speech, you may hear a slightly shorter vowel before consonants in rapid dialogue.
Common errors include lengthening the vowel to /eɪ/ as in “gays,” or replacing the /æ/ with /ɑ/ as in ‘gosh’-like vowels. Another frequent mistake is adding an extra syllable or a voiceless stop after the /s/ in casual speech. Focus on the short, relaxed /æ/ and crisp /s/, with no extra vowel.”
In US and UK accents, /ɡæs/ remains short and closed, with rhoticity not affecting this word since it’s not a rhotic vowel cluster. Australian English also uses /ɡæs/, but vowel quality can be marginally more centralized, and the final /s/ can be a bit sharper or hissier in some dialects. The main perceptible difference is vowel height and length, not the consonants.
Because the word centers on a short, lax vowel /æ/ that can be skipped or weakened in fast speech, causing it to drift toward a schwa or merge with /ɑ/ in some accents. Additionally, final /s/ can link to following consonants in connected speech, altering the perceived quality of the preceding vowel. Mastery requires precise tongue height, jaw position, and crisp /s/ articulation.
The word’s single-syllable profile makes it a prime target for vowel reduction in rapid talk; keep the mouth opening consistent: a low-mid front vowel /æ/ with a relaxed jaw, then a voiceless alveolar /s/. If you notice a lengthened vowel or a voiced /z/ in some dialogues, you’re hearing assimilation or a liaison effect with the surrounding sounds.
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Gas originates from the Middle French gaz, itself from Italian gas, from Greek a ichēs, meaning ‘a chemical substance that is formed by a process of decomposition.’ The term gained scientific traction in the 17th century as scientists experimented with air and vapors. Early usage identified ‘gas’ as any material with no fixed shape that expands to fill space. The discovery of gases like oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen in the 18th and 19th centuries broadened the definition to include a wide range of vapors and volatile substances. The modern sense of plasma and natural gas in energy contexts emerged as technology advanced—gasoline and natural gas became widely used energy sources in the 19th and 20th centuries. In slang, ‘gas’ can refer to something exciting (as in ‘gas’ as fun activity) or to flatulence, illustrating semantic broadening and domain-specific jargon across science, industry, and everyday speech.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "gas" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "gas" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "gas"
-ass sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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