3 syllables: Ma, neu, vers. Stress on neu.
muh-NOO-vurz
/məˈnuvɚz/
Maneuvers is pronounced muh-NOO-vurz (/məˈnuvɚz/). It has three syllables (Ma-neu-vers), with the stress on "neu". Maneuvers is the plural noun for planned moves or tactical actions, especially in driving, aviation, or military contexts. It refers to purposeful, coordinated movements designed to achieve a goal, often involving skill or risk. The term is commonly used in technical or strategic descriptions rather than casual speech.
nounManeuvers is the plural noun for planned moves or tactical actions, especially in driving, aviation, or military contexts. It refers to purposeful, coordinated movements designed to achieve a goal, often involving skill or risk. The term is commonly used in technical or strategic descriptions rather than casual speech.
"The pilot executed complex maneuvers to avoid turbulence and reach the co-pilot’s checkpoint."
"In the driving course, students learn safe lane changes and emergency maneuvers."
"The team planned several evasive maneuvers to outflank their opponents."
Pronounce as mə-NEW-vərz in US English, with primary stress on the second syllable. The first syllable reduces to a schwa /mə/, the second syllable has a long /uː/ (as in 'new'), and the final syllable is /ərz/. In careful speech you’ll hear /məˈnuː.vəz/ in UK English and /məˈnuː.vəz/ or /məˈnuː.vərz/ in Australian. Listen for the rounded high back vowel in the stressed syllable and the final z sound. IPA examples: US /məˈnuː.vərz/, UK /məˈnjuː.vəs/, AU /məˈnjuː.vəz/.
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying ma-NU-vers with wrong emphasis) and shortening the /uː/ to a short /u/ or /ʌ/ in the second syllable. Another frequent issue is pronouncing the final /ərz/ as /erz/ or dropping the /ə/ before the /v/ cluster. To correct: emphasize the /ˈnuː/ portion with a clear long /uː/ and pronounce the final /ərz/ as a rhotic or non-rhotic ending depending on your accent; keep the middle smooth and avoid breaking into separate words.
In US English the word is /məˈnuː.vərz/, with a rhotic final /ɚz/ and clear /ˈnuː/. UK English often uses /məˈnjuː.vəs/ or /məˈnjuː.vəz/ with a shorter final vowel and less rhoticity in some accents. Australian tends toward /məˈnjuː.vəz/ with a silent-ish final schwa or a lightly pronounced /z/. The main differences lie in rhoticity of the ending and vowel quality: US tends to r-colored /ɚ/, UK/AU often reduce to /əz/ or /əs/ in quick speech.
The difficulty centers on the two consecutive consonant sounds after the long vowel: /ˈnuː.vərz/ includes the /v/ and the final /r/ in American English, which can be tough when the following /z/ becomes /z/ or /s/ depending on context. The transition from long back vowel /uː/ to /v/ requires precise lip shaping, and the ending /ərz/ or /əs/ challenges learners to keep the tongue relaxed while voicing the fricative. Practice helps you stabilize the sequence and stress.
A distinctive feature is the strong secondary stress pattern around the second syllable in many contexts, creating a crisp /ˈnuː/ onset. You’ll often hear a subtle rounding of the lips on /uː/ and a light, quick release into the /v/ and /ərz/ sequence. For non-rhotic British variants, the final /z/ can be realized as /s/ in fast speech, while American speakers keep /z/. This nuance affects listening and fast production.
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Maneuvers derives from the French manœuvre, from Old French manœuvre, from manœuvrer ‘to maneuver,’ ultimately from Latin manus ‘hand’ + operari ‘to work’ (via the French root manœuvre). The word entered English in the 15th century with military and nautical connotations, referring to manual operations, then expanded to describe planned, skilled movements in various domains. The spelling shift to maneuvers in American English and manoeuvres in British English reflects the standard -ou- vs -o- spelling patterns between US and UK. In contemporary usage, maneuvers often denote strategic or tactical actions, not merely physical movement, and the word retains a formal or technical register. First known use attested in mid-1400s French military texts, later appearing in English military and navigation writings, with broader civilian adoption in the 19th and 20th centuries, evolving to cover driving, aviation, and sports contexts as well as figurative “maneuvering” in careers or politics.
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Words that rhyme with "Maneuvers"
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