4 syllables: In, tri, ca, cies. Stress on In.
IN-truh-kuh-seez
/ˈɪntɹəkəsiz/
Intricacies is pronounced IN-truh-kuh-seez (/ˈɪntɹəkəsiz/). It has four syllables (In-tri-ca-cies), with the stress on "In". Intricacies (noun) refer to the small, subtle details or complexities within a larger system or topic. This word highlights the fine points and nuanced features that make something intricate. It implies careful attention to moments of difficulty or sophistication rather than broad concepts.
nounIntricacies (noun) refer to the small, subtle details or complexities within a larger system or topic. This word highlights the fine points and nuanced features that make something intricate. It implies careful attention to moments of difficulty or sophistication rather than broad concepts.
"The intricacies of constitutional law require careful study and interpretation."
"She admired the intricacies of the lace pattern and its delicate seam work."
"Researchers mapped the maze of genetic intricacies that control development."
Pronounce as in-TRIH-kuh-seez (US: /ˈɪn·trɪ·ˌkeɪ·sɪz/). The primary stress lands on the second syllable cluster, with a smooth, unstressed first syllable. Note the “-cies” ending sounds like /-sɪz/. Mouth: start with a light /ɪ/ in the first syllable, then a quick /n/ followed by /trɪ/ or /trɪ-/, then a clear /keɪ/ or /keɪ/ and end with /sɪz/. Audio reference: you can compare with “intricacy” to hear the /ˈɪn.trɪ.kə.si/ pattern and adapt to the plural’s /-keɪ.sɪz/ ending.
Common errors: 1) stress misplaced on the first syllable (IN-trih-CESS-iz) — correct as /ˈɪn.trɪˌkeɪ.sɪz/ with secondary stress on -keɪ-. 2) Slurring the /tr/ cluster into a single sound (in-TRI-siz) — keep /t/ and /r/ distinct, with a short pause between /n/ and /tr/. 3) Ending with a hard /z/ instead of /zɪz/ — pronounce the final syllable as /-sɪz/ rather than /-siz/; the /ɪ/ helps clarity.
US and UK generally share /ˈɪn.trɪˌkeɪ.sɪz/, but rhotics can affect surrounding vowels in some US dialects (r-colored vowels before /r/). UK may have a slightly tighter /ɪ/ in the first syllable and a crisper /t/; the /keɪ/ diphthong is similar but may be more centralized in some UK speakers. Australian tends to display broader vowels; /ɪ/ can be a bit lax, and the final /ɪz/ may be realized as /ɪz/ with less prominence on /z/. Always listen to native examples for subtle vowel colors.
Difficult mainly due to the cluster /n trɪk/ and the diphthong /eɪ/ followed by /sɪz/. You must segment the word into clearly enunciated syllables: /ˈɪn.trɪˌkeɪ.sɪz/. The challenge is keeping the /tr/ together without inserting an extra vowel, and ensuring the /eɪ/ is a distinct, elongated diphthong rather than a clipped /e/ sound. Also manage the final /ɪz/ so the ending isn’t devoiced or shortened in rapid speech.
Yes — the plurality ending /-sɪz/ is not always intuitive after a multisyllabic root. The stress pattern often places secondary emphasis on the /keɪ/ syllable (in-trih-KEI-siz), especially in careful speech, which helps listeners parse the word in long sentences. Practicing the two-syllable unit 'keɪ.sɪz' with a clean break can prevent slurring, and recording yourself can reveal whether your stress and vowel qualities align with standard pronunciations.
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Intricacies derives from the adjective intricate, itself from late Latin intricatus, meaning ‘entwined, entangled, complicated,’ from Latin intricare ‘to entangle,’ from in- ‘in’ + tricare ‘to perplex or torment’ (an alteration of tractus ‘drawn out, drawn in’). The noun form gained prominence in English in the 16th–17th centuries as scholars described the delicate, interwoven parts of complex subjects, systems, or patterns. Over time, intricacies broadened from literal weaving or entanglements to figurative complexities in law, science, social structures, and art. The modern sense centers on the subtle, often hard-to-see elements that require careful attention to understand fully. First recorded uses appear in legal and scholarly prose examining the intricacies of doctrine and procedural rules, later expanding to general usage in literature and technical writing.
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Words that rhyme with "Intricacies"
-ies sounds
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