One syllable: Glance.
glans
/ɡlæns/
Glance is pronounced glans (/ɡlæns/). It has one syllable (Glance), with the stress on "Glance". Glance is a quick look or brief glance, typically a nonchalant or momentary sighting. It can also function as a verb meaning to cast a quick, cursory look. The term emphasizes speed and a limited visual engagement, often implying a casual or incidental observation rather than a sustained gaze.
nounGlance is a quick look or brief glance, typically a nonchalant or momentary sighting. It can also function as a verb meaning to cast a quick, cursory look. The term emphasizes speed and a limited visual engagement, often implying a casual or incidental observation rather than a sustained gaze.
"She stole a quick glance at her watch and hurried out the door."
"From the doorway, he cast a hopeful glance toward the empty chair."
"The meteorologist gave a glance at the radar before continuing."
Glance is pronounced with one syllable: /ɡlɑːns/ in most varieties. The onset blends /g/ with /l/ (a dark, light-l combo), the vowel is a long open back /ɑː/, and the final is /ns/ with a voiceless /s/. Ensure the /l/ is not omitted and the /n/ transitions cleanly into /s/. Start with a hard /g/ release, then a quick /l/ and prolonged /ɑː/ before the final /ns/.
Common mistakes include: (1) pronouncing the vowel as a shorter /æ/ like in 'ban' — use the longer /ɑː/ as in 'father'; (2) softening the /l/ to nearly avoid the /l/ sound—keep a distinct /l/; (3) misplacing the final /s/ as a voiceless but voice onset timing can blur if you rush into /s/. Focus on a crisp /ns/ ending with a clear /s/.
In US: /ɡlæns/ with a shorter /æ/ vowel and less rhotic influence; in UK: /ɡlɑːns/ or /ɡlɑːns/ with a longer /ɑː/ and a clearer /l/; in AU: /ɡlɑːns/ similar to UK but with Australian vowel quality, slightly fronted but still broad. The rhoticity is minimal in UK/AU, US may sound slightly lighter in the /æ/ region depending on speaker.
The difficulty lies in transitioning from the velar stop /g/ to the liquid /l/ smoothly while maintaining a long open-back vowel /ɑː/ and finishing with a crisp /ns/. The single-syllable structure makes timing critical; puffing the /s/ or truncating the /n/ can blur the syllable. Also, the /æ/ vs /ɑː/ distinction and vowel length can vary by accent, creating subtle confusion for learners.
Glance stores a strong, short onset with a trailing /l/ and the final /ns/ cluster. A useful tip: ensure the tongue contacts /g/ and /l/ quickly without moving the jaw too far; the /ɑː/ should be held slightly longer, then snap the final /ns/ crisply to avoid a lingered /s/. This cluster is sensitive in fast speech, so practice with fast rhythm to keep the /l/ clear and not swallowed.
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Glance originated in Middle English as glansen, from glansen (to shine, flash, or glisten) and related forms in Old French glanser. The semantic core refers to a brief or quick look, akin to a fleeting flash or sheen of light. The noun sense of a short look emerged by the 14th century, while the verb sense of looking quickly developed in subsequent centuries. The root ideas connect to visibility, surface appearance, and a momentary event rather than sustained attention. The word likely derives from an older Germanic base associated with shining or catching one’s eye, evolving through English into the modern sense of a fleeting, cursory observation. First known usage appears in Middle English texts around the 1300s, with attestations in various legal and literary manuscripts that describe brief glimpses or glints of sight. Over time, “glance” broadened to metaphorical uses, such as glancing a glance of suspicion or glancing at prices, retaining the core notion of a quick, light touch rather than a thorough engagement.
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Words that rhyme with "Glance"
-nce sounds
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