2 syllables: pa, ces. Stress on pa.
/ˈpeɪsɪz/
Say it backPaces is the third-person singular present tense and plural noun form of pace. As a verb, it means to walk at a steady speed; as a noun, it refers to steps or rates of movement. In everyday use, it often appears in phrases like “paces back and forth” or “the pace of life,” conveying speed, tempo, or rhythm within a context.
"- The guard paces the courtyard, watching for any sign of trouble."
"- Her rapid paces imply she’s running late and anxious."
"- The project moved to a slower pace after the budget cut."
You pronounce paces as /peɪs/. The vowel is a long a, like in ‘face,’ and the final s is an unvoiced s. Stress is on the single syllable. Make a clean, single-syllable release with a subtle, breathy start if next to a vowel boundary in fluent speech. IPA: /peɪs/. Mouth position: lips neutral to lightly rounded, jaw relaxed, tip of the tongue near the lower front teeth but not touching.
Common mistakes include adding a voiced vowel before the s (saying ‘pay-zus’), or turning the word into ‘pace-iz’ with a voiced z. Some speakers insert a slight extra vowel like a schwa after the long vowel, turning it into /peɪzɪz/. The correct form is a clean, short /peɪs/ with a final unvoiced /s/. Keep the tongue relaxed and stop airflow immediately at the end of /eɪ/ to avoid voicing.
Across US/UK/AU, the core /peɪs/ vowel is similar, but rhythm and voicing in surrounding sounds shift perception. US tends to be slightly flatter in vowel quality with a crisp /s/ at the end; UK varieties may have a marginally tighter lips and a more precise alveolar sibilant; Australian English often features a slightly more centralized vowel quality before /s/ but still retains /peɪs/. Rhoticity is not a factor here since /peɪs/ ends with /s/.
The challenge lies in maintaining a clean, voiceless final /s/ after a long vowel /eɪ/. Many speakers verse into a voiced /z/ or insert an extra vowel. The key is a quick glottal closure and precise alveolar sibilant release without curling the tongue. Also, adjacent sounds in sentences can blend, so you must isolate /peɪs/ when practicing and then integrate into connected speech.
A unique aspect is the seamless transition from the long vowel /eɪ/ to the voiceless /s/ in a single syllable. Focus on a strong, immediate stopping of breath after the /eɪ/ and a crisp /s/ release, without resorting to an extra vowel or a voiceless slur. The tongue should hover near the alveolar ridge, and the airflow should be steady but brief.
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The word pace originates from the Old French pas, meaning a step, and from the Latin passus, meaning a step or pace. The verb pace entered Middle English via Old French and Latin roots, evolving to mean both walking at a measurable rate and to measure distance by steps. The noun form emerges from the same root as a countable measure of movement—one’s pace or pace of life. Historically, pace was used in both physical motion and metaphorical tempo, such as the pace of a clock or a speech. By the 16th–17th centuries, pace also connected to “pace-setter” and movement rates in marching bands, urban pace, and later in sports and daily time management, solidifying its place in everyday English as both a verb and a noun referring to speed and rhythm.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "paces" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "paces" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "paces" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "paces"
-ces sounds
-ses sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
