2 syllables: kiss, es. Stress on kiss.
KIS-uhz
/ˈkɪsəz/
kisses is pronounced KIS-uhz (/ˈkɪsəz/). It has two syllables (kiss-es), with the stress on "kiss". Kisses is the plural form of kiss, meaning small acts of affection involving pressing or touching lips together. In everyday use, it can refer to multiple smooches, endearments, or metaphorically to affectionate gestures. The word functions broadly in casual conversation and romantic or familial contexts, often paired with verbs like give, blow, or plant. (2-4 sentences, 50-80 words).
Kisses is the plural form of kiss, meaning small acts of affection involving pressing or touching lips together. In everyday use, it can refer to multiple smooches, endearments, or metaphorically to affectionate gestures. The word functions broadly in casual conversation and romantic or familial contexts, often paired with verbs like give, blow, or plant. (2-4 sentences, 50-80 words)
- You will focus on 2-3 phonetic challenges: (1) Final /z/ devoicing or misarticulation with /s/; (2) Rapid consonant cluster /sɪz/ leading to blurring; (3) Short /ɪ/ in the first syllable merging with the following /s/. Corrections: (1) Practice with a voiced /z/ in isolation: /z/ as a light vibration. (2) Do shadow drills emphasizing the pause between /kɪs/ and /ɪz/. (3) Use slow repetition: /k/ /ɪ/ /s/ + slight vowel release before /ɪ/ + /z/. Lessons: use minimal pairs to hear the line between /ɪ/ and /s/.
"She blew kisses to the crowd as the show ended."
"They left sweet kisses on the baby’s forehead."
"He pressed his kisses to her hands before leaving."
Pronounce as /ˈkɪs.ɪz/ (US) or /ˈkɪs.ɪz/ (UK, AU), with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with a short /ɪ/ in the first syllable, then a light, quick /s/ before the voiced /ɪz/ ending. The final -es sounds like a z. Keep the tongue near the alveolar ridge for both /s/ sounds and finish with a relaxed jaw. Audio reference: imagine saying ‘kiss’ quickly and adding a voiced z-sound: /ˈkɪs.ɪz/.”,
Common mistakes: (1) Slurring the first vowel into the /s/ leading to /ˈkɪsɪz/ with unclear syllable boundary. Correction: clearly separate /kɪs/ and /ɪz/ with a tiny vowel release. (2) De-voicing the final /z/ to /s/, giving /ˈkɪsɪs/. Correction: allow voicing for /z/ by engaging the vocal folds. (3) Substituting /ɪ/ with /iː/ in the first syllable leading to /ˈkiːsɪz/. Correction: keep the short /ɪ/ as in 'kit'.
US: /ˈkɪs.ɪz/ with rhotic influence minimal; vowel remains short /ɪ/. UK/AU: often /ˈkɪs.ɪz/ with similar vowels but can have slightly tighter lip rounding; some speakers lengthen or reduce the first vowel depending on speaker. In fast speech, reductions may occur, but the /ɪ/ remains short. Overall, rhoticity is less impactful here; all variants keep /kɪs/ + /ɪz/ with final voiced /z/.
Challenges: (1) Final /z/ requires sustained voicing after a sibilant; if you devoice, it sounds like /s/. Practice voicing by holding a light hum as you finish /z/. (2) The sequence /s/ + /ɪ/ can fuse in rapid speech; ensure a distinct boundary by a light stop or lengthening the preceding /s/ just a touch. (3) The first syllable contains a short /ɪ/ that comes quickly after /k/; avoid inserting an extra vowel or prolonging the /ɪ/. Focus on crisp alveolar sibilants with steady voicing.
Tip: practice the word in slow, exaggerated steps: /k/, /ɪ/, /s/, /ɪ/, /z/. Start with a clean voiceless /k/, then a quick short /ɪ/ before the /s/ to create a clear boundary, then smoothly voice the final /z/. Use minimal pairs like kiss /kɪs/ vs kisses /ˈkɪsɪz/ to anchor the extra syllable and voicing. Visualize the air flow: stop air with tongue at the alveolar ridge for /t/ or /d/ if needed, then release into /s/ and voice into /z/.
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- US: minimal rhotic influence; keep /ɪ/ short and crisp; final /z/ strongly voiced. - UK: slightly tenser mouth; crisp /s/ before /ɪ/; watch for glottalization in rapid speech. - AU: neutral rhythm; short /ɪ/ and maintained voicing on /z/. All: reference IPA /ˈkɪs.ɪz/; adjust lip rounding subtly; ensure central tongue height remains steady during the /ɪ/ vowels.
Kiss, as a verb meaning to touch with the lips, has uncertain origins in the Proto-Germanic *kisjaną or Proto-Indo-European roots, with early English attestations in the Middle Ages. The plural form kisses emerged naturally as the third-person plural or noun plural of kiss, evolving through Old English kusian (to kiss) and kusas (kisses). Historically, the term has carried ceremonial and affectionate weight across cultures, with derivatives in dialects and romance languages reflecting similar gestural acts. The modern usage—repeated acts of affection, or as a figurative sign-off—dates from Early Modern English, when printed texts began standardizing pluralizations for affection-related actions. First known uses appear in religious and romantic poetry, with broader popularization in 17th–19th century prose and song lyrics, cementing kisses as a common symbol of warmth and endearment.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "kisses" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "kisses" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "kisses"
-hes sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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