2 syllables: in, tends. Stress on tends.
in-TENDZ
/ˌɪˈntɛndz/
intends is pronounced in-TENDZ (/ˌɪˈntɛndz/). It has two syllables (in-tends), with the stress on "tends". Intends means to have a plan or purpose to do something; it expresses intention or aim. The word can function as a verb in phrases like “she intends to leave,” indicating a future action. It implies deliberateness rather than mere possibility. The nuance is commitment to a chosen course of action, often with a planned outcome.
Intends means to have a plan or purpose to do something; it expresses intention or aim. The word can function as a verb in phrases like “she intends to leave,” indicating a future action. It implies deliberateness rather than mere possibility. The nuance is commitment to a chosen course of action, often with a planned outcome.
"She intends to apply for the grant next month."
"The company intends to expand its services internationally."
"If he intends to accept the offer, he should respond today."
Pronounce it as /ɪnˈtɛndz/. The stress is on the second syllable: in-TENDS. Start with a lax, short 'i' sound /ɪ/, move to a clear /t/ plus a voiced /dz/ blend at the end. The final /dz/ sound springs from a /d/ plus /z/ cluster; avoid a heavy 'd' before 'z' by letting the tongue briefly touch the alveolar ridge for /d/ and then voice for /z/. Ensure the vowel in the first syllable is short, not reduced, and the final vowel is not audible—the word ends in a consonant cluster /ndz/. For practice, say “in-TENDZ.” Audio references: you can check Cambridge or Forvo pronunciations for the /ɪ/→/t/ transition.”,
Common mistakes include misplacing the primary stress (saying in- TENDS with the stress on the first syllable) and producing an unvoiced /t/ or a weak /z/ at the end. Some learners insert a vowel after the /d/ (like /ɪnˈtɛn.dɪz/) or fail to voice the final /z/ (sounding like /ɪnˈtɛndz/ without voicing). To correct: keep stress on the second syllable, ensure the /t/ is a clean stop, and transition quickly into a voiced /z/ without adding an extra vowel. Practice the sequence /ɪn/ + /ˈtɛndz/ in slow, then natural tempo.”,
Across US/UK/AU, the core /ɪnˈtɛndz/ remains consistent, but vowel qualities can shift slightly. US tends to have a shorter /ɪ/ in the first syllable and a crisp /ɛ/ in the stressed vowel; UK may feature a marginally more centralized or slightly higher /ɛ/ depending on speaker; Australian English often exhibits a more centralized or merged vowel quality in casual speech, with the final /z/ clear and voiced. Rhoticity doesn’t affect this word much because the r-coloring isn’t involved. In connected speech, you might hear a glottal stop before /t/ in rapid speech; however, careful speech maintains a standard /t/.”,
The difficulty lies in the cluster at the end: the /t/ followed by the voiced /z/ (/t/ + /z/ = /tˈz/ as a single endpoint). Learners often devoice the /z/ or insert a vowel between /t/ and /z/. Additionally, the initial /ɪ/ must be short and crisp, not creaky or lax, and the stress on the second syllable must be prominent. Achieve clarity by practicing the sequence /ɪn/ + /ˈtɛndz/ with a quick transition between consonants and a precise, voiced ending. IPA cues and slow-to-fast practice help stabilize the rhythm.”,
A unique aspect is the sibilant onset at the end: the /dz/ combination makes a voiced alveolar affricate, which can be tricky if your native language lacks an affricate end. You’ll want the /d/ closure brief and released into a voiced /z/ without a separate, audible syllable after it. This yields the clean /ɪnˈtɛndz/ ending. Also, the word’s second-syllable stress helps differentiate it from related forms like “intend” or “intension.”
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Intends comes from the Latin intendere, meaning to stretch toward, direct one’s mind, or purpose. The prefix in- (toward) combined with tenere (to hold) or the related tendere (to stretch) reflects the sense of directing one’s thoughts toward a goal. In Old French, intendre and later enténdre carried similar meanings of stretching one’s mind toward an outcome. The English form intende appeared in Middle English around the 14th century, evolving to intend in Early Modern English. The sense broadened from physical stretching or directing attention to more abstract aims and purposes. By the 16th–17th centuries, intend primarily meant to have a plan or purpose, and its usage in legal and formal writing increased. The modern usage as a transitive verb (“to intend to do something”) solidified in the 18th–19th centuries, with the construction becoming common in both spoken and written English. First known uses appear in legal and scholarly texts, reflecting a formal, deliberative nuance that persists in contemporary usage. The word’s root ties to intention, deliberate planning, and forward-looking action, maintaining its core concept across centuries.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "intends" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "intends"
-nds sounds
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