2 syllables: in, comes. Stress on in.
/ˈɪˌnkʌmz/
Say it backIncomes is the plural form of income, referring to money received in the form of wages, salaries, or other earnings. It denotes multiple streams of earnings over a period. The word appears in economic and financial contexts, often alongside expenditures or profits.
- Misplacing stress or trying to stretch the second syllable: you should keep primary stress on the first syllable /ˈɪn/. - Ending with an unvoiced /s/ instead of a voiced /z/: ensure your vocal cords vibrate for /z/. - Over-articulating the middle vowel or turning /kʌ/ into /ko/: keep it brief and reduced to /kʌ/; avoid a full /ko/. - Fusing /nk/ into /ŋk/ or /ŋk/ blur: release the /k/ cleanly after /n/ to maintain the /nk/ sequence.
"The company reported rising incomes for both its employees and shareholders."
"Low incomes in the region have spurred demand for affordable housing."
"Her investments contributed to her total incomes for the year."
You say IN-kumz, with the first syllable stressed: /ˈɪnˌkʌmz/. The second syllable is a quick, reduced sound, ending in z-like /z/. Think “IN” as in in, then a light “kums” with a voiced alveolar sibilant at the end. Visualize: sharp start, slight emphasis on the first syllable, then a short, clipped second syllable.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress as IN-comez or INK-umz. Another error is trying to pluralize with /-ɪnz/ similar to ‘incs’ or mispronouncing the second syllable as /ˈkɒmz/ with a rounded vowel. To correct: keep the first syllable steady /ˈɪn/, then reduce the second syllable to /ˌkʌmz/ with a short schwa-like or reduced vowel and end with a clear /z/ voicing.
In US/UK/AU, the initial vowel in the first syllable is a short /ɪ/ in all, but rhoticity affects the following vowel quality slightly; non-rhotic variants may reduce /kʌmz/ more toward /kəmz/ in some accents. Vowel length and the presence of a slight schwa can vary, but generally all keep /ˈɪnˌkʌmz/ with a voiced final /z/. Australians may exhibit a slightly tighter /ɪ/ and quicker second syllable.
The difficulty lies in the rapid transition between syllables and the cluster /nk/ followed by /ʌm/ before the final /z/. The middle consonant cluster can blur, so many speakers fuse /nk/ with /k/ or mispronounce the second syllable’s vowel as a full vowel rather than a reduced /ə/ or /ʌ/. Practice by isolating /ˈɪn/ and /ˌkʌmz/, then link them smoothly.
A unique aspect is maintaining a clear boundary between /n/ and /k/ in the onset of the second syllable, ensuring the /k/ is released and not absorbed by the preceding nasal. The final /z/ should be voiced, so keep your tongue tip lightly touching the alveolar ridge for sonorant voicing rather than a voiceless /s/.
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- US: Rhotic vowel shapes are more pronounced; keep /ˈɪnˌkʌmz/ with a crisp /m/ and final /z/. - UK: Slightly shorter final vowel, with less vowel length in /ɪ/ and crisper /z/. - AU: Slightly rounded lip position on the /ʌ/ and faster tempo; maintain the /z/ voicing clearly. Use IPA cues /ˈɪnˌkʌmz/ for all.
Income derives from the Latin incomere, not a classical Latin word but a compound in English formed in the 14th-15th centuries from in- (in, into) + come (come). The sense shifted from conveying something that comes in or into one’s possession to money received. The term became established in economic language by the early modern period, with “income” used in taxation and accounting contexts. The plural “incomes” appears primarily when discussing multiple streams or multiple persons’ earnings, though it is less common than using noncountable “income” in general discussions. The word’s historical development tracks the broader evolution of financial vocabulary as commerce became more complex, with “income” often contrasted with “expenditure” and “profit.” First known uses appear in parliamentary and legal records describing incomes from lands, rents, and other holdings, before expanding into modern civil and corporate finance discourse.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "incomes" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "incomes"
-ngs sounds
-ins sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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