/ˌɪntɚˈfɪɹz/
Say it backInterferes is a verb meaning to get in the way of, hinder, or disrupt something by causing obstruction or conflict. It typically refers to actions that impede progress or cause interference in a process, outcome, or relationship. The form interferes marks third-person singular present tense.
- Common mispronunciations include inserting an extra vowel between syllables (e.g., /ˌɪn.tɚˈfɪərz/ with an unusual schwa in the second syllable) and misplacing stress (pronouncing as /ˌɪn.təˈfɜːrz/ or /ˌɪnˈtər.fɪrz/). - Correction tips: rehearse the word in slow, deliberate syllables: /ˌɪn.tərˈfɪərz/ (US); /ˌɪn.təˈfɪəz/ (UK). Use minimal pairs to fix the middle vowel quality: “interfere” vs “interference” contrasts help with vowel length and rhoticity. - Emphasize the final -z voice: keep voicing strong but not overly aspirated; ensure the /z/ is not confused with /s/ in rapid tempo, which can flatten the end. - Record yourself and compare to native audio; work until your final syllable remains clearly voiced.”,
"Her constant questions interferes with the smooth operation of the meeting."
"External noise interferes with the recording, making it hard to hear clearly."
"The neighbor’s loud activities interferes with my concentration when I work from home."
/ˌɪn.tərˈfɪərz/ in US and /ˌɪn.təˈfɪəz/ in UK; AU often mirrors /ˌɪn.təˈfiːəz/. Start with ’in-’ as a short, lax i, then ‘ter-’ with a relaxed /tər/ schwa-like onset, and stress the second syllable: FIRS (/fɪər/) or /fiːə/ depending on accent. Tip: keep the vowel ɪ in the first syllable brief, and avoid a strong /ɛ/ in the second syllable. You’ll hear a clear contrast between the unstressed second vowel and the stressed final -eers. Listen for the rising diphthong in many speakers.”,
Common errors include lengthening the second syllable unintentionally by adding a full vowel, producing /ˌɪn.tərˈfɪ smth/ or misplacing stress as /ˌɪnərˈfɪərz/. Another frequent issue is merging the -er- with a schwa, producing /ˌɪn.tɐrˈfiərz/ instead of /ˌɪn.tərˈfɪərz/. Correction: keep the second syllable unstressed relative to the final -eers, pronounce the final -eers as a single stressed /fɪərz/ (US) or /fɪəz/ (UK). Practice with minimal pairs to maintain the correct rhythm and avoid vowel reduction in the root syllable.”,
US speakers typically use /ˌɪn.tərˈfɪərz/ with a rhotic r and a tense final /ɪər/ or /ɪərz/. UK pronunciation often yields /ˌɪn.təˈfɪəz/ with a shorter, non-rhotic 'r' and a rising diphthong in the final syllable. Australian tends to fall between US and UK: /ˌɪn.təˈfiːəz/ or /ˌɪn.təˈfɪəz/, with smoother vowels and less r-coloring. In all, focus on the stressed second syllable’s vowel quality and whether the final -es is a voiced /z/ or a voiceless /s/ depending on context and accent.”,
Two key challenges: the multisyllabic rhythm with secondary stress on the first syllable and the final -eers cluster /fɪərz/ or /fiːəz/, which involves a precise vowel transition and a voiced-voiceless boundary. The middle /ər/ can be reduced to a schwa in rapid speech, risking unclear consonant articulation. To master, practice the exact sequence: in- + ter- with /ər/ in a reduced form, then a strong /fɪər/ or /fiːə/ before the final /z/. Use slow tempo, then speed up while maintaining vowel integrity.”,
An effective nuance is the boundary between the second and third syllables: /ˌɪn.tərˈfɪərz/. Some speakers insert a light /ə/ between /t/ and /f/ if trying to sound casual, producing /ˌɪn.tə.ˈfɪərz/. The correct pattern keeps /tər/ as a compact unit, with the stress on the second syllable’s nucleus /fɪər/ (or /fiːə/ in AU). Practicing this boundary helps your speech sound precise and natural.”,
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- US: rhotic /r/ in the first two syllables; keep /ɚ/ in the second syllable as a quick, almost-schwa-like r-controlled vowel. Final /z/ is voiced, so avoid devoicing. - UK: non-rhotic tendency; /təˈfɪəz/ with a shorter second syllable and a clearer /z/ boundary; the final vowel tends to be a shorter, clipped /ɜː/ or /əz/. - AU: tends toward a longer final vowel and less pronounced r-coloring; /ˌɪn.təˈfiːəz/ with a smoother glide into the final /əz/. Reference IPA and illustrate where each accent keeps or reduces r-coloring. - General: ensure syllable count and stress placement; practice with IPA charts, mirror mouth movements, and keep a relaxed jaw. - Include mouth position notes for each segment: start with a relaxed lip closure for /ɪ/; raise the tongue to the alveolar ridge for /t/; relax to /ər/ with mid-central vowel; transition to /f/ with upper teeth on lower lip; finish with /ɪər/ or /iːə/ before /z/.”,
Interferes comes from the prefix inter- meaning between or among, and the Latin verb fari (to speak) via the verb interferere, literally “to strike between” or “to meddle.” The sense evolved through medieval Latin and Old French into English, where interference designated intervention that disrupts or interrupts. The modern sense of obstructing a process or activity crystallized in the 18th–19th centuries as scientific and legal discourse used interference to describe disruptive influences, whether physical (objects between signals) or figurative (obstructive influence in decisions). The word’s structure—inter- + fere (to bear, carry, or bring in) via Latin—points to “bringing between” as a conceptual root, but the English usage centers on interruption rather than mere bringing. First known uses appear in legal and technical texts of the late 1700s, with increasingly common usage in psychology, physics (e.g., signal interference), and everyday speech in the 19th and 20th centuries. The form interferes appears as the third-person singular simple present verb by adding -es to the base verb interfere, which itself comes from the Latin inter- + ferre (to bear, carry). The evolution reflects a shift from a broad sense of intervention to a more precise notion of disruptive action in relation to a target or process.
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Words that rhyme with "interferes"
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