One syllable: Mares.
merz
/mɛɹz/
Mares is pronounced merz (/mɛɹz/). It has one syllable (Mares), with the stress on "Mares". Mares is the plural form of the noun mare, meaning adult female horses. In general usage, it designates female horses as a group or as a species category, and can appear in agricultural, veterinary, or equestrian contexts. The word is two syllables, with primary stress on the first syllable: MA-res.
nounMares is the plural form of the noun mare, meaning adult female horses. In general usage, it designates female horses as a group or as a species category, and can appear in agricultural, veterinary, or equestrian contexts. The word is two syllables, with primary stress on the first syllable: MA-res.
"The mares in the field nicker softly as the geldings graze nearby."
"A herd of mares shared a stall and bonded with their foals."
"The breeder evaluated the mares for conformation and temperament."
In standard US/UK pronunciation, 'mares' is two syllables: /mɛrz/. The first syllable has a short e as in 'bed,' and the final 'es' is voiced /z/ as in 'zoo' but blended after the /r/: 'marez' with an 'r-colored' vowel leading into the /z/. Stress is on the first syllable: MA- res. Quick hint: ensure the /r/ links smoothly to the /z/.
Common errors include pronouncing it as /merz/ with no rhoticity or delaying the /r/ (mer- z) and articulating it as /mæːrz/ with a lax, longer vowel. Another frequent slip is dropping the final /z/ to /s/ in rapid speech, sounding like /mɛrs/. Correct by ensuring a clear /r/ onset and voiced /z/ at the end; keep the vowel short, like in 'bed,' and avoid a trailing opensound that softens the ending.
In US English, /mɛrz/ with a clear rhotic /r/ and a voiced /z/. UK English tends to be slightly less rhotic in some areas, sometimes closer to /meːz/ or a lighter /r/; Australian vowels may be broader with a slightly more open front vowel leading to /mæːz/ or /meəz/ depending on speaker. The key is the final consonant voice: US/AU often maintain /z/, while some UK dialects can sound closer to /s/ in rapid speech if devoiced. Always listen for the subtle vowel shift before /r/.
Two main challenges: the combination of the /ɛ/ vowel followed by a voiced /r/ can create a difficult, Americanized /r/ transition, and the final /z/ can sound too soft or devoiced in rapid speech. The r- controlled vowel requires a relaxed mid-back tongue position with the tip toward the alveolar ridge, then a quick glide into a voiced sibilant. Practice sustaining the /z/ without voicelessness and keep the vowel crisp to avoid a hyper-short /ɛ/ or a misplacing of the /r/.
The word carries primary stress on the first syllable (MA-res). In speech, you’ll hear a slightly stronger emphasis on /m/ and a quick, almost clipped second syllable. This is a straightforward trochaic pattern, but some speakers may reduce the second syllable in fast conversation. For SEO, phrase it as MA-res with the breath after the first syllable; ensure your audio sample highlights the capitalized MA.
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- US: Strong rhotic /r/; short front vowel before r; final /z/ with voice. - UK: Less rhotic; could have a closer to /meəz/ or /mɛəz/ depending on region; final /z/ may be slightly devoiced in rapid speech. - AU: More open vowel in /ɛ/ region; some speakers use a broader /eɪ/ before r in informal speech; still final /z/ is voiced. IPA references help track subtle shifts. - Across accents, keep the tongue tip close to the alveolar ridge for /r/; ensure the lips are relaxed and not rounded excessively; for final /z/, keep cord vibration steady while a light breath supports the ending.
Mares derives from the Old English mære, mare, from Proto-Germanic *mairô, which is related to the Proto-Indo-European root *mā- meaning ‘to die’ in some cognates but here took on the meaning of ‘female horse’ in Germanic languages. The term appears in early Middle English texts as mare, meaning a female horse, and later distinguished mare as the plural mares. The word’s semantic shift aligns with the practice of using animal gendered nouns in veterinary, agricultural, and breeding contexts. Over time, mares has maintained its plural form in modern English without significant pronunciation or spelling changes, aside from standard pluralization rules. First known uses in English date from the late Old English to Middle English transition, with widespread usage by the 14th century in hunting and horse-keeping literature, reinforcing its stable, unambiguous gendered reference in contemporary specialized discourse.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Mares" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Mares" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Mares"
-res sounds
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