3 syllables: Ma, tri, ces. Stress on Ma.
MAY-tris-iz
/ˈmeɪtɹɪsɪz/
Matrices is pronounced MAY-tris-iz (/ˈmeɪtɹɪsɪz/). It has three syllables (Ma-tri-ces), with the stress on "Ma". Matrices is the plural of matrix, referring to rectangular arrangements of numbers or data, or abstract relational structures in mathematics. The term is used across math, computer science, statistics, and data analysis to describe multiple such structures. It’s pronounced with stress on the first syllable and ends with a clear /ɪz/ or /iz/ sound, signaling the plural form.
nounMatrices is the plural of matrix, referring to rectangular arrangements of numbers or data, or abstract relational structures in mathematics. The term is used across math, computer science, statistics, and data analysis to describe multiple such structures. It’s pronounced with stress on the first syllable and ends with a clear /ɪz/ or /iz/ sound, signaling the plural form.
How to Pronounce Matrices
"The software stores multiple data matrices for different experiments."
"Researchers compared several matrices to determine the best linear transformation."
"In linear algebra, a set of matrices can represent a system of equations."
Pronounce as MEI-tri-seez with primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈmeɪ.trɪˌsiːz/ (US) or /ˈmeɪ.trɪˈsɪz/ (UK). Start with a clear /eɪ/ in the first syllable, then a light /t/ or flap, followed by /r/ and a final /siz/ or /siːz/. When speaking, keep the vowels pure and end with a voiced sibilant; the final s is voiced because of the preceding vowel sound. Listen for the subtle length on the second syllable and the plural suffix sounding like -siz or -sez depending on accent.
Common errors: misplacing stress (say ma-TRI-ces), or turning the final -ces into -kus or dropping the -s altogether. Another frequent issue is pronouncing the middle /t/ too strongly, making it /ˈmɛt.rɪ.sɪz/. Correction: hold primary stress on MEI, release /t/ softly as a tap or stop, then glide into /ri/ with a clear /ɪ/ before the final /z/ sound. Practice the sequence: /ˈmeɪ/ + /trɪ/ + /siːz/ in short blocks, ensuring the final sibilant is voiced.
US: /ˈmeɪ.trɪˌsiːz/ with a rhotacized /ɚ/ in some speakers and a longer final vowel in /siːz/. UK: /ˈmeɪ.trɪ.sɪz/ or /ˈmeɪ.trə.siːz/, with less emphasis on the second syllable and a shorter /ɪ/ before the final /z/. AU: /ˈmeɪ.trɪ.siz/ with a flatter intonation and a clipped final /s/. The key differences lie in vowel quality in the second syllable, rhoticity, and the length of the final vowel. If you’re unsure, mimic a native academic speaker in your target region.
The difficulty comes from the two consecutive syllables with mid vowels and the plural suffix attached, which can shift portamento in fast speech. The contrast between /ˈmeɪ/ and /trɪ/ requires careful timing, and the final /siːz/ or /siz/ demands a clear sibilant voice onset time. People often overemphasize the /t/ or reduce the middle vowel. Focus on maintaining a stable /tr/ cluster while keeping the final syllable distinct.
A unique aspect is maintaining the split between the root stress on the first syllable and a light, almost elided middle consonant cluster /trɪ/ before the /siːz/ suffix. Many learners blur the /t/ or merge /trɪ/ into /tr/; you should clearly articulate /trɪ/ before the /siːz/. IPA cues: /ˈmeɪ.trɪˌsiːz/ emphasizes the mid vowels and a crisp /t/ release before /rɪ/.
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Matrices comes from Latin matrix, meaning ’womb, mother, source frame’ from mag- prefix and the root mat- from Latin mater, meaning mother. The Latin plural form matrices emerged in English by the 19th century with the adoption of mathematical jargon via translators and scholars studying linear algebra and geometry. The root matrix originally signified a mold or framework, a structure providing the essential form for content. In mathematics, matrix was borrowed to denote a rectangular array of numbers or functions used for transformations and systems of equations. Over time, the term broadened to include any structural framework of data, implicitly a preserving shape or template. The plural matrices appears as English extended usage to refer to multiple such structures, aligning with other scientific plurals (e.g., hypotheses, analyses). First known uses surface in mathematical texts of the 19th century as linear algebra matured, and by the 20th century the word is entrenched in statistics, computer science, and applied mathematics.”,
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Words that rhyme with "Matrices"
-ies sounds
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