3 syllables: In, di, ces. Stress on In.
IN-dis-eez
/ˈɪndɪˌsiz/
Indices is pronounced IN-dis-eez (/ˈɪndɪˌsiz/). It has three syllables (In-di-ces), with the stress on "In". Indices is the plural of index, used to denote multiple indices in data, mathematics, or reference lists. In linguistics or statistics contexts it refers to the plural form of an indicator or list item. The term is pronounced with two syllables in common use, stressing the first syllable, and it often appears in academic writing and technical discussion.
nounIndices is the plural of index, used to denote multiple indices in data, mathematics, or reference lists. In linguistics or statistics contexts it refers to the plural form of an indicator or list item. The term is pronounced with two syllables in common use, stressing the first syllable, and it often appears in academic writing and technical discussion.
"The researcher plotted several indices to compare the catalytic activity across conditions."
"Stock market analysts watch several market indices to gauge overall performance."
"The book includes indices for authors, subjects, and keywords."
Pronounce as IN-di-sees, with two syllables. IPA US/UK/AU: /ˈɪn.dɪ.siːz/. The first syllable carries primary stress, the second syllable is unstressed, and the final vowel is a long /iː/ followed by /z/. Make sure the /n/ and /d/ blend smoothly to avoid a broken transition between /n/ and /d/. Audio references: try Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries for a spoken example and Forvo user pronunciations to hear regional variations.
Common errors: misplacing stress (saying IN-dih-seez or in-DI-siːz), mispronouncing the /dɪ/ as /di/ or /də/ leading to ‘in-dee-seez’, and flattening the final /ɪːz/ into /ɪz/ or /iːz with wrong vowel length. Correct by keeping the stress on IN, use a short /ɪ/ in the second syllable, and end with a clear /siːz/ with a long /iː/ before /z/. Practice with minimal pairs and listen to native speakers to tune the vowel length and the /z/ release.
In US, the /ˈɪn.dɪ.siːz/ keeps a mild rhotic quality; the /ɪ/ in the first and second syllables is short, and the /siːz/ ends with a clear long 'ee' before /z/. UK and AU learners often maintain similar /ˈɪn.dɪ.siːz/, but you may hear slight vowel quality changes in non-rhotic speakers where /ˈɪn.dɪ.siːz/ lacks post-vocalic r influence and may have subtle vowel rounding or a shorter /iː/ in fast speech. All share primary stress on the first syllable; the main variation is vowel quality and rhythm due to accent.
Key challenges include the cluster /ndɪ/ transitioning between nasal /n/ and dental /d/, the unstressed mid syllable /dɪ/ that can reduce to a schwa in rapid speech, and the final /siːz/ with a long /iː/ before /z/. Learners often misplace stress or blend the /d/ into a /t/ or omit the diacritic pause, resulting in ‘in-tuh-seez’ or ‘in-dee-sez’. Focus on clean consonant transition and keeping the long /iː/ in the final syllable for accurate cadence.
A useful, word-specific point is the difference between ‘indices’ (plural) and ‘indexes’ (alternative plural). In many technical contexts, especially mathematics and statistics, 'indices' is preferred and keeps the Latin plural form without altering the internal syllable structure. This can influence how you visualize and articulate the word in long lists or equations, ensuring the /ɪ/ in the second syllable remains short and the final /iːz/ remains crisp.
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The word index (plural indices or indexes) comes from Latin index, meaning 'one who points out' or 'a thing which points' from the verb indicare, ‘to point out’ or ‘to show.’ In Latin, indic- is the root related to showing or indicating, which gave English index in the sense of a pointer, an indicator, or a list item (as in an index of a book). The plural form developed in English with two standard spellings: indices (following the Latin plural pattern -ices) and indexes (Anglo-Norman/English plural). The mathematical and scientific communities favored indices as the formal plural in technical writing (indices in mathematics, statistics, and plural uses like data indices). First known use in English traces to the 16th–17th century, reflecting the borrowings that created specialized terms in science and literature; over time indices gained distinct meanings depending on discipline (book indexes, statistical indices, index sets, and index numbers). In modern usage, indices are ubiquitous in data analysis and scholarly writing, with the pronunciation preserving the -uhz ending in many varieties.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Indices" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Indices" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Indices"
-ces sounds
-ses sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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