One syllable: gifts.
gifts
/ɡɪfts/
gifts is pronounced gifts (/ɡɪfts/). It has one syllable (gifts), with the stress on "gifts". Gifts is a plural noun meaning items given to others, typically on occasions like birthdays or holidays; it can also function as a verb form meaning to present something to someone. In everyday use, it often conveys generosity and celebration. The pronunciation is concise and clear, with a short final /s/ indicating plurality or third-person singular verb form.
Gifts is a plural noun meaning items given to others, typically on occasions like birthdays or holidays; it can also function as a verb form meaning to present something to someone. In everyday use, it often conveys generosity and celebration. The pronunciation is concise and clear, with a short final /s/ indicating plurality or third-person singular verb form.
"She wrapped the gifts and placed them under the tree."
"The charity received several gifts from generous donors."
"He gifts his old belongings to the local museum."
Gifts is pronounced /ɡɪfts/. The initial sound is a voiced velar plosive /ɡ/, then the short lax vowel /ɪ/ as in kit, followed by the voiceless fricative cluster /f/ and finally the voiceless alveolar sibilant /s/. The emphasis is on the single syllable; keep the mouth closed quickly between /ɡ/ and /ɪ/ and release into /f/ smoothly. Audio reference: [standard American pronunciation]
Common errors include pronouncing the final /t/ as a hard stop before /s/ (like /ɡɪfts/ vs. /ɡɪft s/), or overstressing the vowel making it sound like /eɪ/ as in ‘gates.’ To correct, keep the vowel short /ɪ/, avoid adding a vowel before /s/, and ensure the /t/ is a light, unreleased stop or a quick release into /s/. Practice with minimal pairs: /ɡɪfts/ vs /ɡɪft s/ (incorrect separation).
In US English, /ɡɪfts/ with a clear short 'i' and a crisp /t/; in many UK varieties, the /t/ before /s/ may be flapped or lightly released, sounding slightly softer in rapid speech, but still /ɡɪfts/. Australian English tends to maintain the same /ɡɪfts/ onset, but with a more centralized vowel and possibly a more lenient /t/ release. Overall, the vowel quality and final /s/ are stable; the main variation is the allophonic treatment of /t/ and rhythm.
Difficulties center on the cluster /fts/ at the end, which requires quick, precise release of /f/ into /s/ without inserting a vowel or aspirating the /t/. Many speakers also aspirate or vocalize the final /s/ in rapid speech, turning it into a light /z/ or a longer sound. The short /ɪ/ in a closed syllable can also be challenging for non-native speakers who anticipate a longer vowel in English words.
The word hinges on a crisp, unreleased or lightly released /t/ in rapid speech; you should aim for a quick /t/ onset immediately followed by /s/. The mouth position is similar to pronouncing ‘give’ but with a final voiceless /t/ and /s/ blend. Practicing with fast, natural speech helps you avoid a separate /t/ vowel and keeps the word sounding natural in conversation.
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The word gifts comes from Old English gife, which referred to a gift or something given. The semantic lineage traces to Proto-Germanic *giftaz, meaning ‘something given’ or ‘a wager,’ reflecting an action of giving or presenting. Over time, the sense narrowed to a tangible item given as a sign of affection, celebration, or obligation. In Middle English, gifts appeared with forms like giftes and gife, embedded within social rituals of hospitality, feasting, and ceremonial exchange. The modern plural gifts developed through regular pluralization patterns in Early Modern English as the plural marker -s spread to nouns denoting objects, reinforcing its use as an external offer rather than a mere concept. The word has retained its core meaning of transference of possession, but in contemporary usage, it also appears as a verb (to gift) in many dialects, particularly in informal speech or marketing language, where “gifts” stands in for “items you give.” First known use as a plural noun appears in medieval texts, with evidence in household inventories and trade records that reflect goods given as presents or dowries. Modern usage is firmly established in both consumer and social contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "gifts" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "gifts"
-fts sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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