Ostriches is the plural form of ostrich, a large flightless bird native to Africa. It refers to multiple birds, distinguished by their long necks, powerful legs, and distinctive plumage. In everyday use, it often appears in discussions of birds, hunting, farming, or wildlife, and can serve as a metaphor for speed or stubbornness.
- You might mispronounce the second syllable by turning it into a long vowel (/ˈɒ.strɪˈtʒiz/). Keep it short: /ɪ/. - The /t͡ʃ/ should be a crisp palato-alveolar affricate; avoid merging with /t/ or /d/. - Final /z/ should be voiced; some speakers devoice it in quiet speech. - Ensure the initial /ˈɒ/ or /ˈɑː/ is not reduced to /ə/ in careful speech; maintain the stressed first vowel. Practice by drilling OS, TRICH, and final EZ separately before blending.
- US: rhotic pronouncing /ɹ/ before vowels; ensure /ɑː/ or /ɒ/ has American quality; final /z/ is clear and voiced. - UK: shorter first vowel, non-rhotic in careful speech; keep /ˈɒ.strɪ.tʃɪz/ crisp with a distinct /t͡ʃ/; avoid / stri/ slur. - AU: similar to UK; slight /ɹ/ approximant; may have more vowel reduction in fast speech; maintain clear /t͡ʃ/ and final z. IPA references included above.
"The ostriches at the farm surprised the visitors with their curious heads and quick bursts of speed."
"Researchers studied several ostriches to understand their unique digestive system."
"The zoo added two ostriches to its collection, drawing attention from tall, feathered residents."
"In ancient myths, ostriches were sometimes described as running faster than most predators."
Ostrich derives from Middle English ostrich, from Old French volantere, from Latin struthio, from Greek strouthios, from strouthos (stretched, upright). The plural form ostriches emerged in Early Modern English to reflect the regular pluralization pattern of English nouns ending in -ch in some dialects, though other plurals exist (ostriches in American usage under standard -s). The root word struthio traces to the Greek term for “sparrow-hawk” or “bird,” reflecting ancient taxonomy and the early classification of large, flightless birds. As European explorers encountered ostriches in Africa, the word cemented its modern usage in zoological and agricultural vocabulary. Through centuries, ostrich populations and farming references influenced language, with “ostrich-like speed” entering idiomatic speech. The term’s first known written use appears in medieval bestiaries and travelogues, with more formal scientific naming in Linnaean taxonomy later refining its spelling and pluralization. The current form ostriches likely stabilized in Early Modern English, aligning with similar pluralization patterns for words ending in -ch or -tch sounds, while the singular ostrich retains strong association with the bird’s emblematic features—height, neck length, and speed.
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Words that rhyme with "Ostriches"
-hes sounds
-ers sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ˈɒ.strɪ.tʃɪz/ (UK) or /ˈɑː.strɪ.tʃɪz/ (US), with primary stress on the first syllable. Segment: OS-trich-es, where ‘ost’ is /ɒ/ or /ɑː/, ‘trich’ = /trɪtʃ/ with a short, clipped i, and the final /ɪz/ pronounced as a light z-sound. Mouth position: open-mid back rounded for /ɒ/ or /ɑː/, lips neutral, tongue high for /tʃ/.”,
Common errors: (1) Over-pronouncing the second syllable as /oʊ/ or /ɔː/; keep it short /ɪ/ as in ‘kit.’ (2) Slurring the /tʃ/ to /t/ or /dʒ/; aim for the palato-alveolar affricate /t͡ʃ/. (3) Weak final /z/ or mispronouncing as /s/; ensure a voiced /z/. Correction tips: practice OS-TRI-CHIZ with distinct breaks, exaggerate the /t͡ʃ/ sound slowly, then blend. Listen to native samples and imitate the rhythm.”,
US tends to /ˈɑː.strɪ.tʃɪz/ with rhoticity; UK often /ˈɒ.strɪ.tʃɪz/ with shorter vowel in first syllable; Australian generally /ˈɒ.stɹɪ.t͡ʃɪz/ with approximant /ɹ/ quality and non-rhotic tendencies in careful speech. The /t͡ʃ/ remains consistent; vowel length and rhoticity shift slightly; final /ɪz/ may be realized as /ɪz/ in all. Listen for reduced vowel in fast speech and slight vowel centralization in AU.”,
Key challenges: the combination of /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ with the /t͡ʃ/ cluster and a voiced final /z/ is tricky; the /str/ sequence can be awkward for non-native speakers, and final /z/ may be devoiced in quiet contexts. Also, the tri-syllabic rhythm places emphasis on the first syllable. Practice by isolating OS- and then blending /t͡ʃɪz/ with controlled lip and tongue movement.
Does the word Ostriches ever reduce a syllable in rapid speech? In careful speech, all three syllables appear: /ˈɑː.strɪ.tʃɪz/. In very casual speech, some speakers may reduce the middle syllable slightly, but the /t͡ʃ/ sound usually remains distinct to avoid confusion with similar words like ‘ostrich’ or ‘ostriches’ variants. Always keep the /t͡ʃ/ audible for intelligibility.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Ostriches"!
- Shadowing: listen to 3 native samples per day; speak along with the audio—start slow, then normal, then fast. - Minimal pairs: ostriches vs ostrich (singular) to highlight final /z/; ostrich vs ostrach? Create pairs like /ˈɒ.strɪ.tʃɪz/ vs /ˈɒ.strɪ.t͡ʃ/ to train endings. - Rhythm practice: emphasize 1st syllable, quick 2nd, light 3rd; use metronome 60–90 BPM for slow, 120–160 BPM for fast. - Stress practice: keep primary stress on first syllable, secondary on none; avoid shifting stress. - Recording: compare your recording with a native sample; note differences in vowel quality and /t͡ʃ/. - Context practice: use two sentences to check intelligibility.
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