2 syllables: No, tice. Stress on No.
NOH-tuhs
/ˈnoʊtəs/
Notice is pronounced NOH-tuhs (/ˈnoʊtəs/). It has two syllables (No-tice), with the stress on "No". Notice (n.) refers to the act of becoming aware of something or observing it; it can also mean a formal written warning or information about a change. In practical use, it denotes perception or attention, and in legal or formal contexts it signals official notification. The term carries a light, everyday register in most contexts, with slightly more formal connotations when used as formal notice or notice of termination.
nounNotice (n.) refers to the act of becoming aware of something or observing it; it can also mean a formal written warning or information about a change. In practical use, it denotes perception or attention, and in legal or formal contexts it signals official notification. The term carries a light, everyday register in most contexts, with slightly more formal connotations when used as formal notice or notice of termination.
"I gave you notice that I’m leaving next month."
"Please take notice of the changes in the schedule."
"She didn’t notice the typo until after the email was sent."
Notice is pronounced with the first syllable stressed: US /ˈnoʊtɪs/, UK/AU /ˈnəʊtɪs/. Start with a strong diphthong in the first vowel: /oʊ/ as in 'go', then a light /t/ followed by /ɪ/ and final /s/. In rapid speech, the vowel in the first syllable can lax, but keep the /t/ clearly heard to avoid merging with 'notices'. Audio reference: imagine the tempo of saying “no” plus “tiss” quickly.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (say-ing /ˈnuːtɪs/ or /ˈnoʊtəs/) and softening the /t/ into a tap or glottal stop in some dialects. Another error is pronouncing the second syllable with a reduced /ɪ/ as /ə/, yielding /ˈnoʊtəs/. To correct: clearly enunciate /t/ before /ɪ/, keep /ɪ/ as a short vowel, and avoid slurring into /s/; practice focusing the airflow and mouth position to maintain crisp consonants.
In US English, /ˈnoʊtɪs/ places strong emphasis on the first syllable with a tense /oʊ/. In many UK speakers, /ˈnəʊtɪs/ uses a longer, rounded /əʊ/ in the first syllable and a slightly reduced second vowel. Australian pronunciation typically aligns with UK in vowel quality, often with a mid-centralized first vowel /ˈnəʊtɪs/ depending on region. The final /s/ remains voiceless in all. Watch for non-rhotic differences in some UK contexts where post-vocalic r is not pronounced.
The challenge centers on the diphthong in the first syllable and the quick /t/ before a short /ɪ/; some speakers merge /tɪs/ into /təs/ or /təs/. Avoid yod coalescence and ensure the tongue blade rises to form /t/ without a flapped or glottal stop. Also, in rapid speech, the transition from the vowel to /t/ can blend with adjacent syllables. Focusing on crisp separation of /t/ and /ɪ/ helps clarity in all accents.
A unique feature is the contrast between /oʊ/ vs /əʊ/ across dialects; US tends to fully pronounce /oʊ/ with a bright glide, while UK/AU often shift toward /əʊ/ with a more centralized starting point. The stress pattern remains stable (first syllable stressed), but the exact vowel timbre can influence intelligibility, especially in non-native listening. Paying attention to the mouth shape for the first diphthong and ensuring a clean /t/ is key.
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Notice originated in Middle English from Old French notice, from late Latin notitia, meaning knowledge or familiarity. The root not-, from Latin noscere ‘to know’, appears in many cognates across Romance languages. In its earliest senses, notice referred to knowledge gained through perception, and by extension information that makes someone aware. By the 16th century, notice also took on a legal/administrative nuance, representing formal information or instruction. In modern English, notice occupies a dual register: everyday perception (to notice something) and formal communication (to give notice, notice of termination). The word's evolution mirrors changes in administrative practices and information dissemination, with the concept of notice becoming a standardized mechanism for signaling events, obligations, or changes, particularly in institutional contexts. First known use in print appears in Middle English texts dating from around the 13th to 15th centuries, with sustained legal usage emerging in the early modern period as courts and bureaucracies formalized notice requirements. The semantic range broadened as notice began to denote not just perception but also formal communication protocols. Today, notice remains ubiquitous in law, policy, and everyday speech, retaining its core sense of making something known or officially communicated.
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Words that rhyme with "Notice"
-ice sounds
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