One syllable: guess.
ges
/ɡɛs/
guess is pronounced ges (/ɡɛs/). It has one syllable (guess), with the stress on "guess". Guess is a one-syllable verb meaning to form an opinion or estimate without knowing all the facts. It implies uncertainty and a tentative conclusion, often based on incomplete information. In everyday use, it can express speculation, hypothesis, or a casual assumption in conversation or reasoning.
Guess is a one-syllable verb meaning to form an opinion or estimate without knowing all the facts. It implies uncertainty and a tentative conclusion, often based on incomplete information. In everyday use, it can express speculation, hypothesis, or a casual assumption in conversation or reasoning.
"- I guess it will rain later, based on those dark clouds."
"- She guessed his password after watching him type a few times."
"- You can guess the answer, but it might be wrong."
Pronounce it as /ɡɛs/. The initial sound is a hard G (as in 'get'), followed by a short, lax e as in 'bet', and a final voiceless s. The vowel is a near-front open-mid /ɛ/; keep it shorter than a full vowel. Stress is on the single syllable. Tip: avoid vocalizing a trailing 'w' or 'y' sound. You can practice with 'guess' in phrases like 'guess what' to feel the quick, clipped ending.
Two common errors: first, pronouncing it with a long 'oo' or 'yoo' sound as in 'goose' (muting the /ɛ/); second, adding a trailing 'z' sound or making a voiced ending /z/ instead of /s/. Correct it by keeping the vowel short and lax /ɛ/ and ending with a crisp, voiceless /s/. Practice with minimal pairs like 'guess' vs 'gas' and 'guess' vs 'gis' to hear the difference.
In US/UK/AU, the core /ɡɛs/ remains, but vowel quality can shift slightly: US often has a slightly tenser /ɛ/; some UK pronunciations may lean toward /æ/ in certain dialects; Australian English often features a very clipped, short /ɛ/ with less vowel length. The final /s/ remains voiceless in all. Consonant release is quick; no rhoticity affects the word itself since it ends before any r-coloring. Overall, pronunciation is similar, with minor vowel shifts.
The difficulty lies in executing the short, centralized /ɛ/ vowel quickly before a voiceless /s/ without inserting extra vowels or turning it into /ɡɪs/ or /ɡuːs/. Many learners also mistakenly pronounce a 'g' as a hard /d͡ʒ/ or add a trailing vowel. Focus on a tight jaw and a brisk, unvoiced /s/ release after a short /ɛ/, keeping the tongue high-mid and forward.
There are no silent letters in 'guess,' and it is a monosyllable with primary stress on the single syllable. The challenge is not a silent element but the precise vowel quality and the voiceless ending. Ensure the final sound is a crisp /s/ without an audible stop before it, and avoid turning it into /ɡɪz/ with a voiced z ending. This distinction matters when contrasting with 'guest,' which is pronounced /ɡɛst/.
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Guess originates from Middle English gessan, meaning to judge or form an opinion, which itself traces to Old Norse giska, meaning to guess or to guess at. The semantic core evolved from asserting an estimated judgment to the more modern sense of making an educated-or-not estimate without complete information. By the 16th century, guess had gained traction in English literature as a casual, non-committal assertion of likelihood. The form merged with the Old English word gieran (to guess or wonder) in regional dialects, contributing to varied spellings like gasse in earlier texts. Over time, guess became a standard verb in everyday speech, carrying both cautious implication and shared social meaning when offering a tentative answer. The noun guess appeared as a nominal use in the 18th century, reinforcing the act of making an educated speculation, often in games, puzzles, or informal dialogue. The evolution reflects the shift from a formal estimation to a more colloquial, flexible expression that signals uncertainty without assertion of fact.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "guess" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "guess" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "guess"
-ess sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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