2 syllables: mass, es. Stress on mass.
MAS-uhz
/ˈmæsəz/
masses is pronounced MAS-uhz (/ˈmæsəz/). It has two syllables (mass-es), with the stress on "mass". Masses can function as a noun meaning large crowds or a quantity of something, or as a verb form (third-person singular) of mass, meaning to weight or compress. In plural noun sense, it refers to a large group; in verb sense, it describes the action of making something heavier or stronger. The term often appears in social, religious, or scientific contexts. Context will determine whether it’s pronounced with a long /æ/ or a reduced vowel in fast speech.".
Masses can function as a noun meaning large crowds or a quantity of something, or as a verb form (third-person singular) of mass, meaning to weight or compress. In plural noun sense, it refers to a large group; in verb sense, it describes the action of making something heavier or stronger. The term often appears in social, religious, or scientific contexts. Context will determine whether it’s pronounced with a long /æ/ or a reduced vowel in fast speech."
"The masses gathered in the square to hear the announcement."
"Medical teams mass the equipment into the truck for quick deployment."
"In physics, the masses of the celestial bodies influence their orbits."
Pronounce as /ˈmæs.ɪz/ in US/UK/AU varieties. Stress falls on the first syllable: MASE-iz, with a short æ as in ‘cat’ and a voiced z ending. The middle vowel is a short, lax /ɪ/ rather than a long /iː/. Lip position is relaxed, with the jaw slightly open for /æ/ and a quick reduced /ɪ/ transition before the final /z/. Listen for the crisp /s/→/ɪ/→/z/ flow in natural speech.
Common errors include over-pronouncing the second syllable as /eɪ/ or /iː/ (misplacing the /ɪ/), and turning the /s/ into a /z/ too early or emphasizing the /s/ consonant too long. Another mistake is not making the final /z/ voiced, sounding like /s/ at the end. Correct by maintaining a short, lax /ɪ/ in the second syllable and ensuring the final /z/ is voiced as in ‘zoo’ but shorter. Practice with minimal pairs to stabilize vowel length and voicing.
In all three accents, /ˈmæs.ɪz/ is standard, but you’ll hear subtle differences: US tends to d light frontness in /æ/ and a stronger, longer /ɪ/; UK often presents a slightly more clipped /ˈmɑːsɪz/ in some regions where /æ/ can approach /ɑː/ in broad accents; Australian typically keeps /æ/ close to [æ] with a more centralized /ɪ/ and a softer final /z/. Overall, the nucleus vowels remain short; the main variation is vowel quality of /æ/ and the length of the following vowel before /z/.
The difficulty lies in the quick transition from the short open-front /æ/ to the lax /ɪ/ in the second syllable and the final voiced /z/. The cluster /sɪz/ requires precise voicing control to avoid an unvoiced /s/ or a prolonged /z/. For non-native speakers, the rapid, light gliding between the alveolar nasal onset and affricate end can blur the syllable boundary. Practicing with minimal pairs and slow articulation helps you lock the sequence /mæs.ɪz/ clearly.
A unique nuance is the pluralized noun sense can sound very similar to the verb form of ‘mass,’ especially in fast speech. The key is keeping the plural noun pitch and rhythm: plural nouns often carry natural stress on the first syllable and a quick, light second syllable. When referring to a physical mass vs a crowd, ensure context cues (article, determiners) prevent ambiguity. IPA reminder: /ˈmæs.ɪz/.
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Masses comes from the late Latin massa, meaning ‘a lump, bulk, lump of matter,’ from Greek massai ‘kneaded dough,’ akin to metal mass and mass. In English, the word built through Old French masse and Late Latin massa, denoting a large bulk or capital amount. The lexical shift from concrete bulk to a statistical or abstract group occurred by the 15th century, with sense extensions to ‘crowd’ or ‘quantities’ in religious and social contexts. The verb form mass (to compact or weigh down) contributed the present participle masses and the noun plural masses (the aggregates). The primary modern uses—‘the masses’ (the people) and ‘mass of objects’—were solidified by the 19th century as mass became a technical/scientific term in physics and geometry, while the social metaphor of a large populace proliferated in journalism and rhetoric through the 20th century.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "masses" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "masses" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "masses"
-ses sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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