2 syllables: pa, rades. Stress on rades.
pur-AYDZ
/pɚˈeɪdz/
parades is pronounced pur-AYDZ (/pɚˈeɪdz/). It has two syllables (pa-rades), with the stress on "rades". Parades is the plural noun or verb form referring to organized public celebrations or processions, typically featuring marching bands, floats, and participants. It denotes multiple instances of such events or the act of conducting a procession. The word emphasizes public spectacle and ceremonial movement, often in towns or cities, with attention to timing, order, and visual display.
Parades is the plural noun or verb form referring to organized public celebrations or processions, typically featuring marching bands, floats, and participants. It denotes multiple instances of such events or the act of conducting a procession. The word emphasizes public spectacle and ceremonial movement, often in towns or cities, with attention to timing, order, and visual display.
- You may drop the /d/ and end simply with /z/. Keep the /d/ release to ensure the /dz/ sequence is audible. - Misplace or under-emphasize the stress on the second syllable: practice with a strong beat on /ˈreɪdz/. - Vowel reduction in the first syllable: avoid saying /ˈpærædz/ or /pəˈreɪds/; keep /pə/ for the first, then /ˈreɪdz/. - Coalescing /d/ into /z/: ensure an audible /d/ before the /z/ rather than a single /z/ only. - In fast speech, run together the /d/ with the /z/, but maintain a clear /dz/ release to preserve the plural/verb meaning.
"The city hosts vivid parades every summer, drawing thousands of spectators."
"A marching band parades down Main Street, playing a lively tune."
"Residents gathered to watch the festive parades pass by in the morning rain."
Pronounce as /pəˈreɪdz/. The first syllable is a schwa, then the stressed second syllable 'rades' rhymes with 'raids' but ends with a voiced z sound. IPA: /pəˈreɪdz/. Mouth: lips relaxed, tongue mid-low for /ə/, front high for /eɪ/, then a voiced alveolar fricative + final /dz/; ensure the /d/ and /z/ are joined in a single affricate release at the end. You’ll hear the stress on the second syllable.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress as /ˈpær.ædz/ or softening the final /dz/ to /z/ without the preceding /d/. Some learners blend the second syllable into /reɪz/ or drop the /d/ entirely. Correct approach: keep /pə/ then stress the /ˈreɪdz/ with a clear /d/ before the /z/. Practice by linking /eɪ/ to the /d/ release so there’s a clean /eɪdz/ at the end.
In US, UK, and AU, the core vowel sounds are similar: /pəˈreɪdz/. Differences lie in rhoticity and vowel quality: US is rhotic with a stronger /ɹ/ influence in unstressed syllables; UK often reduces /ə/ more and may accent the /eɪ/ as a longer diphthong; AU resembles UK but with a flatter /ɜː/ influence in some speakers. The final /dz/ is consistently voiced, but some speakers may assimilate to /z/ if speaking fast.
The difficulty centers on the two-part stress pattern in a word with a vowel sequence /əˈeɪ/ and the final voiced cluster /dz/. The 'ə' in the first syllable is weak, so learners often mispronounce as /ˈpærɪdz/ or omit the /d/ before /z/. Focus on preserving the diphthong /eɪ/ in the stressed second syllable and clearly releasing the /d/ before the /z/ for a crisp /dz/ sound.
Unique to 'parades' is the /ˈreɪdz/ sequence where the /eɪ/ is tied to a soft but audible /d/ before the /z/. It’s not a simple /reɪz/; you must articulate a released /d/ before voicing the final /z/. This makes it distinct from verbs like 'parades' where the pronunciation remains /ˈpær.ædz/ in some limited regional forms, but standard use keeps /ˈreɪdz/ in the stressed syllable.
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- US: emphasize rhoticity with a clear /ɹ/ in obvious positions; keep /ə/ as a mid-central vowel in unstressed syllables. - UK: reduce the first syllable more, keep the /eɪ/ as a crisp diphthong; ensure the /d/ is released before final /z/. - AU: often flatter vowel quality; maintain /ə/ and /eɪ/ with a clear /d/ to /z/ sequence; watch for non-rhotic tendencies affecting linking. - IPA references: /pəˈreɪdz/ across all three; try to produce consistent /ˈreɪ/ for the stressed syllable in all accents.
Parades originates from the French word parade, which in turn comes from the Italian parade-like verb parare, meaning to prepare, or to lay out. The sense shift from a preparatory display to an orderly public procession occurred in early modern Europe, where city pages and military units traveled with banners and bands to demonstrate readiness and celebration. English adopted parade in the 16th–17th centuries, initially describing a ceremonial march or military display, then expanding to civilian celebrations. The -s suffix marks plural noun or third-person singular verb forms in modern usage. First known uses appear in records of royal entries and public ceremonies in Europe, where parades signified spectacle and order, before spreading to American cities with the growth of parades tied to national holidays and civic pride.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "parades" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "parades" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "parades"
-des sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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