2 syllables: na, tures. Stress on na.
NAY-churz
/ˈneɪtʃɚz/
natures is pronounced NAY-churz (/ˈneɪtʃɚz/). It has two syllables (na-tures), with the stress on "na". Natures is the plural noun form or a third-person singular verb form related to nature, referring to natural qualities, types, or dispositions. In everyday use it often appears in phrases like “human natures” or “configurations of natures.” As a verb (rare outside literature), it means to belong to or be inherent in someone’s nature. It functions as a content word and tends to carry moderate to high semantic load rather than grammatical lightness.
Natures is the plural noun form or a third-person singular verb form related to nature, referring to natural qualities, types, or dispositions. In everyday use it often appears in phrases like “human natures” or “configurations of natures.” As a verb (rare outside literature), it means to belong to or be inherent in someone’s nature. It functions as a content word and tends to carry moderate to high semantic load rather than grammatical lightness.
- Misplacing stress or over-enunciating the second syllable; keep the first syllable clearly stressed: NEI- in NEI-tures. - Confusing /tʃ/ with /ʃ/ or /t/; ensure the /t/ is released before the /tʃ/ blend, producing /neɪtʃ/ rather than /neɪʃ/ or /neɪtʃtʃ/. - Final z voicing in rapid speech can be devoiced to /s/ or reduced to a barely audible /z/; aim for a crisp /z/ to avoid /s/ mispronunciation. - In non-rhotic accents, the r in /ər/ reduces; practice with a light rhotic release if you’re rhotic or not depending on the dialect.”,
"Her research explored the diverse natures of ecosystems in the boreal regions."
"Understanding human natures can help explain why people make certain choices."
"The book contrasts the natures of whimsy and discipline in childhood development."
Pronounce as NEI-churz (US) or NEI-chəz (UK/AU) with the first syllable stressed. IPA: US ˈneɪtʃərz, UK ˈneɪtʃəz, AU ˈneɪtʃəz. Start with the diphthong /eɪ/ in the first syllable, then a cheapened /tʃ/ sound /tʃ/. The second syllable is a schwa + r-color or a reduced /ər/ or /əz/ depending on accent. Finish with a voiced z /z/. Ensure the /t/ is released, not combined into a /tʃ/.”,
Common mistakes: misplacing the /t/ and /ʃ/ blend, saying /neɪtars/ instead of /neɪtʃərz/, or turning the second syllable into /ɡz/ or /z/ with a hard vowel. Correction: keep a clear /tʃ/ combination after the first syllable: /ˈneɪtʃərz/. Ensure the second syllable uses a reduced vowel like schwa /ə/ or /ɜ/ depending on dialect, and voice the final z clearly.”,
US tends to articulate /ˈneɪtʃərz/ with a rhotic /r/ in many dialects; UK and AU often render the final syllable as /əz/ with a non-rhotic r. The /r/ in US is more pronounced, while UK/AU often have a weaker or non-rhotic /ɹ/ sound depending on the speaker. The first syllable remains /neɪtʃ/ across accents. Overall: US /ˈneɪtʃərz/, UK /ˈneɪtʃəz/, AU /ˈneɪtʃəz/ with subtle vowel length differences.”,
The difficulty lies in blending /tʃ/ with a reduced second syllable and voicing the final /z/ after a stressed first syllable, particularly for learners whose L1 lacks post-toccurs. The /ɪ/ or /ə/ quality in the second syllable can shift, and the r-coloring varies by dialect. Practice by isolating /neɪtʃ/ and then adding a quick, voiced /ər/ or /əz/ with a final /z/.”,
There are no silent letters in natures; the word has a clear two-syllable rhythm with stress on the first syllable: /ˈneɪtʃərz/. The second syllable reduces to /ə/ or /ɜ/ before the final /z/. The pattern mirrors many two-syllable English nouns with a dʒ or tʃ onset. Understand the stress and the vowel reduction to reproduce natural speech.”,
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- US: pronounced with rhotic /ɹ/ in the second syllable; keep /ər/ vowel with a clear r-color; use a stronger /r/ if you’re aiming for broader American accent. - UK: non-rhotic; /ər/ reduces to /ə/ or /ə/ with minimal rhotic quality; place more focus on the /tʃ/ and the syllable break; last consonant is clear but light. - AU: similar to UK with variable rhoticity; maintain a gentle final z; vowels in /neɪtʃ/ stay lax and the second syllable reduces to /ə/ or /ɪə/ in some speakers; keep the cadence natural.”,
Natures comes from the plural of nature, which originates from the Latin natura, meaning birth, kind, or essence, and from the verb nasci meaning to be born. The Latin natura was used to denote the intrinsic qualities of a thing, often contrasted with nurture or human activity. As Latin evolved into Old French as nature, it entered English retaining the sense of inherent qualities and the physical world. In Middle English, nature began to denote both the physical universe and the innate character of individuals. The plural form natures commonly appears when referring to multiple kinds of inherent qualities or to the collective dispositions of groups or species, or when recentering the sense as a noun phrase (the natures of X). Its verb usage, to nature (within literature or dialectal contexts), has become archaic, with modern usage preferring the noun sense or the phrase “human natures.” Early attestations in English date back to the 14th-15th centuries, with texts gradually expanding its semantic range to include moral and psychological facets as social sciences developed. Over time, natures evolved from purely metaphysical use to more concrete references in biology, philosophy, and cultural discussions, while maintaining the core idea of inherent or essential qualities. First known uses appear in religious and scholarly writing, where “nature” described the essence of beings and the material world alike, later expanding to more specialized uses in natural philosophy and taxonomy.
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