2 syllables: glan, ces. Stress on glan.
GLAN-siz
/ˈɡlænsɪz/
glances is pronounced GLAN-siz (/ˈɡlænsɪz/). It has two syllables (glan-ces), with the stress on "glan". Glances (noun or verb form in third-person singular or plural) refers to quick, brief looks. As a noun it denotes brief looks; as a verb it means to glance. The term emphasizes the speed and momentary nature of the gaze, and is often used with prepositions like at or toward. The pronunciation centers on a short, closed vowel followed by a voiced nasal and a final sibilant.
Glances (noun or verb form in third-person singular or plural) refers to quick, brief looks. As a noun it denotes brief looks; as a verb it means to glance. The term emphasizes the speed and momentary nature of the gaze, and is often used with prepositions like at or toward. The pronunciation centers on a short, closed vowel followed by a voiced nasal and a final sibilant.
"- She offered a few quick glances toward the exit before leaving."
"- He glances at his watch and realizes he’s late."
"- The crowd’s glances were drawn to the flashing lights."
Glances is pronounced with two syllables: /ɡlænzɪz/ (US) or /ɡlɑːnsɪz/ (UK/AU). The main stress is on the first syllable: GLAN-! Start with a clear /ɡ/ plosive, then /l/ with the tongue at the alveolar ridge. The vowel in the first syllable is a short lax vowel: /æ/ for US, /ɑː/ for UK/AU. The second syllable is a reduced /zɪz/ or /zɪz/; the final /z/ is voiced. Practicing with a quick, light /z/ release helps maintain natural rhythm.
Common mistakes: 1) Slurring the first vowel into /ə/ making /ɡəlɪnz/ or /ɡlɪnz/—keep /æ/ or /ɑː/ distinct. 2) Losing the /l/ and saying /ɡænz/ or /ɡlænz/ without the /z/ in final cluster. Correction: articulate /l/ clearly after /ɡ/ then release into /zɪz/. 3) Final /ɪz/ reduced to a simple /z/ or /z/ with weak voicing; ensure you maintain a short /ɪ/ and the explicit /z/ vowel combo /zɪz/ in natural speech.
US tends to a clear /æ/ in the first syllable and a pronounced /ɪ/ in the second: /ɡlænzɪz/. UK often uses /ɑː/ in the first syllable: /ɡlɑːnsɪz/ with non-rhoticity; AU aligns similarly to US but with subtle vowel length and a more rounded /ɪ/ in the second. The final consonant cluster remains /z/; rhoticity is not as impactful here since the word centers on the vowel in the first syllable. Listening for the /æ/ vs /ɑː/ distinction is key.
The difficulty lies in transitioning from the alveolar /l/ into a quick /z/ in a single syllable, plus maintaining a crisp /æ/ or /ɑː/ vowel in the first syllable while keeping the second syllable compact /ɪz/. The plural suffix -es here produces a vowel change relative to the base form; the /z/ voice onset time must stay even with /ɪ/. Finally, rapid speech can blur the /æ/ into /ə/ if you don’t over-articulate the first vowel.
A unique aspect is the rapid vowel-consonant transition from the vowel in the first syllable to the /l/ and then straight into the /z/ of the plural suffix, without creating a strong hiatus. You should maintain a brisk but clear /æ/ (or /ɑː/) before the /nz/ cluster, so the mouth makes a tight sequence: rounded lips for /l/? Not rounding, but a smooth, neutral tongue position, then a quick /z/ to /ɪz/.
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US: /ɡlænzɪz/ — keep the /æ/ stable, steady /l/, then quick /zɪz/. UK: /ɡlɑːnsɪz/ — longer first vowel, less rhotic influence, maintain clear /l/ and final /z/. AU: /ɡlænsɪz/ — similar to US but with slightly more open front vowel; ensure non-rhotic feel but not overly lengthened. Vowel quality differences: US /æ/ vs UK /ɑː/ vs AU /æ/; consonant: /l/ clear, not darkened. IPA references: /ɡlænzɪz/ vs /ɡlɑːnsɪz/.
Glance comes from Middle English glaynsen, from Old French glanser, meaning to glance or flash aside, akin to glanser deserant. Its roots likely trace to a Germanic source related to “glanzen,” meaning to gleam or sparkle, capturing the transient, meteoric sense of a quick look. The suffix -es marks the word as a plural noun or third-person singular verb form in modern usage. Early appearances in English literature show glances used to describe brief, almost blink-like looks rather than steady gazes. Over time, the word narrowed in usage to emphasize speed and momentary attention, often in phrases like “glances toward” or “glances away.” In contemporary English, glances remains common in narrative and dialogue, retaining its sense of speed and occasional irony when the gaze moves quickly from object to object. First known use is elusive, but attests to glances being well established by the 15th century as a shorthand for rapid visual checks. The semantic drift solidified around the 17th–19th centuries as writers exploited its crisp, kinetic imagery in both prose and stage directions. Today, glances preserves its dual noun/verb function and often coexists with related terms like “glance” (singular) and “glancing” (gerund/participial form).
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Words that rhyme with "glances"
-ces sounds
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