3 syllables: mag, ni, tudes. Stress on mag.
MAG-nuh-toodz
/ˈmæɡnəˌtudz/
magnitudes is pronounced MAG-nuh-toodz (/ˈmæɡnəˌtudz/). It has three syllables (mag-ni-tudes), with the stress on "mag". Magnitudes refers to the great size, extent, or importance of something, especially in mathematics, science, or statistics. It denotes a measurable scale or amount and is often used to describe the degree of a quantity relative to a standard reference. The term conveys a sense of scale more than a precise count, emphasizing magnitude over minutiae.
Magnitudes refers to the great size, extent, or importance of something, especially in mathematics, science, or statistics. It denotes a measurable scale or amount and is often used to describe the degree of a quantity relative to a standard reference. The term conveys a sense of scale more than a precise count, emphasizing magnitude over minutiae.
- Misplacing stress on the second syllable (e.g., maɡ.NI-tudes). To fix, practice MAG-ni-tudes with strong initial beat, then soften the middle. - Slurring /tjuː/ into /tuː/ or /tj/ sounds (US/UK variants). Practice crisp /t/ plus /juː/ or /tj/ depending on variant; do drills focusing on the /t/ onset before /juː/ or /tuː/. - End consonant confusion: often people say /dz/ too forcefully or omit voicing. Finish with a light /dz/ and avoid a hard /d/ release. Practice by isolating final consonant with a voiceless to voiced transition.
"The magnitudes of earthquakes are measured on the Richter scale."
"In data analysis, you must account for the magnitudes of effect to avoid misinterpretation."
"Astronomers compare the magnitudes of stars to determine their brightness."
You say /ˈmæɡ.nɪ.tuːdz/ in US and UK English, with primary stress on the first syllable. The sequence is MAG-nuh-TOO-dz, the second syllable reduced to a quick /nɪ/ and the final /tuːdz/ or /tuːdz/ depending on accent. Keep the /ɡ/ at the end of the first syllable clear, then glide into /nɪ/ and finish with /tuːdz/ (US) or /tj uːdz/ (UK). Practicing syllable-by-syllable helps great accuracy.
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying maɡ-NI-tuːdz) or slurring the second syllable into the first (/ˈmæɡ.nɪˌtuːdz/). Another pitfall is merging the /t/ and /j/ in the UK variant /ˈmæɡ.nɪ.tjuːdz/ too slowly, producing an unwieldy /tj/ sequence. Correct these by ensuring strong initial stress, crisp /t/ onset of the third syllable, and linking the final /dz/ with a light voice to avoid a harsh /d/. Focused practice on the /tjuː/ cluster cures most issues.
US tends to make /tuːdz/ as a clear /tuːdz/ with a long /uː/ and a light /dz/ at the end; UK often preserves a closer /tjuːdz/ in non-rhotic contexts and may show slight vowel quality differences in /æ/ vs /æɡ/; AU is similar to US but may feature a slightly flatter diphthong in /tuː/ and more centralized vowel in the second syllable. The key is consistent first-syllable stress and crisp final consonants, with regional vowel shifts shaping the overall timbre.
Because it combines a stressed initial syllable with a mid-position vowel sequence and a final consonant cluster /dz/. The /æ/ but can be short, the /ɡ/ linking into /n/ across syllables, and the /tuːdz/ sequence demands precise tongue-tip tip placement and voicing. Additionally, the /tjuː/ variant can challenge non-native speakers who expect a clean /t/ or link them to /dj/. Awareness of the syllable boundaries helps you segment and articulate.
A unique factor is the final /dz/ voice onset time, which you should voice softly and release as a clear d−z, not a heavy stop. The transition from /t/ to /dz/ across syllable boundary can create a subtle pause if you’re not careful. You’ll hear a crisper, more natural finish if you practice a tiny cheek lift and a slightly forward jaw to ease the final convocation.
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- In US, you typically emphasize the first syllable MAG-, with /mæɡ/ and the final /dz/ voiced; keep the /ɡ/ clean. - UK: you may hear /ˈmæɡ.nɪ.tjuːdz/, with /tjuː/ cluster pronounced as a syllabic /tj/ sequence before the /uː/. The rhotic difference is less noticeable in non-rhotic UK contexts. - AU: similar to US, but may have a slightly more centralized /ɪ/ in /nɪ/ and a brighter /uː/ in the final vowel. Focus on crisp /t/ and smooth vocalic transitions; maintain primary stress on MAG-.
Magnitudes derives from the Latin magnitudinem, from magnus meaning 'great' or 'large'. The root magn- is common to many words related to size and importance, such as magnitude, magnificent, and magnify. The Latin magnitūdō (greatness, size) appears in scholarly Latin texts to describe quantity or importance. During the Middle Ages, scholars adopted magnitudo into Latin-influenced scholarly vocabulary, where it carried mathematical and physical nuance, especially concerning the relative size of quantities in geometry, physics, and astronomy. In English, magnitudes appeared in scientific discourse by the 14th–15th centuries, but the mathematical sense—referring to the size or extent of a vector, scalar, or physical quantity—became prominent with the development of algebra and calculus in the 17th–18th centuries. First known uses in English can be traced to translations of Euclidean or Aristotelian treatises, then increasingly in scientific treatises as measurement systems evolved. The term now spans everyday language (magnitude of a problem) to highly technical domains (magnitude of a field in physics, cosmology, or statistics).
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Words that rhyme with "magnitudes"
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