2 syllables: guess, es. Stress on guess.
GES-uhz
/ˈɡɛsəz/
guesses is pronounced GES-uhz (/ˈɡɛsəz/). It has two syllables (guess-es), with the stress on "guess". Guesses is the plural noun or verb form of guess. As a noun it refers to attempts at estimating an answer without full certainty; as a verb it means makes estimates or conjectures. The word carries a light, casual tone and often occurs in everyday conversation about uncertainty or probability. Proper pronunciation emphasizes a tight final -s with a plural or third-person -es ending.
Guesses is the plural noun or verb form of guess. As a noun it refers to attempts at estimating an answer without full certainty; as a verb it means makes estimates or conjectures. The word carries a light, casual tone and often occurs in everyday conversation about uncertainty or probability. Proper pronunciation emphasizes a tight final -s with a plural or third-person -es ending.
"I made several guesses about the outcome of the game."
"Her guesses were close, but not quite right."
"What are your guesses for the missing number?"
Pronounce it as /ˈɡes·ɪz/ in both US and UK accents, with primary stress on the first syllable. The initial /g/ is hard, followed by a short /e/ as in “get,” then a light /s/ before the final voiced /ɪz/ or /əz/ depending on pace. In fast speech, the /s/ can sound like a single elongated /z/ due to linking, but keep the /ɪ/ clearly heard before the final /z/. IPA reference: US/UK /ˈɡesɪz/; listen to native samples on Pronounce or Forvo.
Common mistakes: 1) Slurring the final -es into a longer /ɪz/ or /əz/ without clear vowel; 2) Reducing the first vowel to a schwa /ə/ in casual speech; 3) Voicing the /s/ as a voiceless /s/ when the final /z/ is intended. Correction: keep the /ɪ/ before the final /z/ crisp, articulate the sibilant swiftly, and ensure the vowel in the first syllable remains /e/ rather than /ə/ in careful speech. Practice with slow phoneme drills to stabilize the final /z/.
US and UK both use a stressed first syllable with /ˈɡesɪz/. The main differences are vowel quality in the first syllable and the final sibilant in rapid speech. US tends to be slightly tenser with a crisper /ɪ/ before /z/, UK may show marginally lighter vowel duration and more vowel reduction in rapid talk. Australian English remains /ˈɡesɪz/ but with a slightly flatter intonation and a less pronounced rhotic influence, though /ɹ/ is not phonemic in non-rhotic varieties.
The difficulty centers on the final cluster /ɪz/ after /s/ with rapid voicing; speakers may assimilate the /s/ into the preceding consonant or merge it with the /z/ sound in fast speech. Also, the first syllable requires a clean /e/ vowel before a voiced /z/; in connected speech, the transition from /s/ to /ɪ/ and then to /z/ can blur if not carefully enunciated. Focus on articulating the /ɪ/ clearly and ending with a precise /z/ to prevent a hydra-like blend.
Yes. The plural ending -es often yields /ɪz/ or /əz/ depending on the preceding sound, but in /ɡesɪz/ the final sound is /z/ after a short /ɪ/; this can surprise learners who expect a hard /s/ as in simple plural endings. The mail cue is the voiced /z/ at the end, contrasting with a potential voiceless /s/ when following voiceless consonants.
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Guesses comes from the verb guess, which traces toOld English gedȳsan or gespian, with Germanic roots linked to the act of trying or testing. The modern spelling reflects Middle English ghessen and Old English gesan, evolving through phonetic simplification and standardization. The noun use arose in earlier English in parallel to “guessing,” denoting an instance of guessing, later aggregating into the plural form. The semantic shift centers on probabilistic estimation rather than certain knowledge, with “guess” applying to both the action and its outputs. By the 18th–19th centuries, writers used “guesses” to describe multiple attempts or conjectures in debates, games, and problem solving, solidifying its common modern usage as a casual term for approximate conclusions. Historically, the pronunciation settled on a hard /g/ onset, a short stressed vowel in the first syllable, and an -es ending reflecting plural or third-person singular agreement.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "guesses" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "guesses"
-ses sounds
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