2 syllables: pave, ments. Stress on pave.
PAYV-muhnts
/ˈpeɪvmənts/
pavements is pronounced PAYV-muhnts (/ˈpeɪvmənts/). It has two syllables (pave-ments), with the stress on "pave". Pavements refers to walking surfaces, typically made of concrete or asphalt, that provide a durable path for pedestrians. In British usage, the term usually means the sidewalk, whereas in American English it commonly refers to any outdoor pedestrian surface and can sometimes be used more broadly. The word emphasizes a constructed ground surface designed for safe, even footing.
Pavements refers to walking surfaces, typically made of concrete or asphalt, that provide a durable path for pedestrians. In British usage, the term usually means the sidewalk, whereas in American English it commonly refers to any outdoor pedestrian surface and can sometimes be used more broadly. The word emphasizes a constructed ground surface designed for safe, even footing.
- Common Mistakes • You might flatten the first vowel to a dull /æ/ or blur the /v/ into a /b/ or /f/ sound. Solution: keep the /v/ distinct and finish the first syllable with a crisp /æ/ and a short, clipped onset to /v/. • The final /nts/ cluster is tricky; many speakers insert a vowel between /n/ and /t/ or drop the /t/ altogether. Solution: train for a clean, immediate /t/ release into /s/ and practice a quick, light /nt/ touch before the /s/. • The second syllable can become schwa-heavy or reduced too much, making the word sound like /ˈpævmənts/ with an almost silent second syllable. Solution: keep a subtle, but audible /mə/ without fully reducing it, ensuring rhythm remains two-syllable.
"The city repaved the pavements along the main street after the winter storms."
"Pedestrians crowded the pavements while street vendors set up stalls."
"In some towns, the pavements are uneven and need resurfacing."
Pronounce as /ˈpæv.mənts/ in US and UK; stress on the first syllable. Start with a bilabial p, then open front unrounded vowel /æ/ as in 'cat', followed by /v/ and a schwa /ə/ reduced vowel before the final /nts/. The sequence is two syllables with a light, almost unstressed second syllable. Audio references can help you hear the subtle vowel length and the /t/ release before /s/; use a slow, deliberate pace at first, then speed up while keeping the strong initial beat.
Common errors include treating the word as two stressed syllables with equal emphasis, saying /ˈpævˌmɛnts/ or simplifying to /ˈpæv.mənts/ with a reduced second syllable. Some speakers oversimplify the final /nts/ cluster to a simple /n/ or /t/. The most corrective approach is to maintain a crisp /nts/ release at the end and keep the /æ/ vowel in the first syllable short and crisp. Practice by saying /ˈpæv.mənts/ slowly, then gradually increase speed while preserving the final cluster accuracy.
In General American, the first syllable bears strong stress with /æ/ in 'pav-'. The /r/ is not present in this word, but the second syllable uses a muted schwa /ə/. In UK English, the /æ/ in the first syllable is also prominent, and the overall rhythm is slightly more clipped with a clearer /t/ before the final /s/. Australian English follows similar patterns to UK, often with a slightly broader vowel in /æ/ and a softer /t/ release. All variants maintain the /-ments/ ending, but vowel length and the exact quality of /æ/ can shift slightly by region.
The difficulty lies in the two-syllable rhythm with a strong initial stress and the final cluster /-nts/. Many non-native speakers misplace the stress or soften the /æ/ to /eɪ/ or misarticulate the /nts/ sequence, producing /pæv.mənt/ or /pæv.zənts/. Focus on maintaining a clear /æ/ in the first syllable, a crisp /t/ before the /s/, and a clean /nts/ release without inserting extra vowels. Slow practice with a tongue-timed release helps you lock the final consonant cluster.
The word uniquely blends a short front vowel /æ/ with a rapid consonant sequence /-v.mənts/ where the /v/ flows into a light schwa before an /nts/ cluster. It’s important to keep the second syllable unstressed while ensuring the /t/ is released clearly into /s/ rather than a voiceless stop. Paying attention to the boundary between /mə/ and /nts/ helps avoid an intrusive vowel in the final cluster and preserves natural, native-like rhythm.
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- US: Maintain a strong, rhotic non-issue; keep /æ/ slightly tenser and shorter. UK: Slightly crisper /t/ before /s/ and maintain clear /æ/ with a shorter /ə/ in the second syllable. AU: Slightly broader vowel in /æ/ and often a softer /t/. All share /-ments/ ending; ensure the /t/ isn’t swallowed before /s/. Reference IPA as /ˈpæv.mənts/.
The word pavement comes from Middle English pavement, derived from the Old French pavement (also pavement), from Latin pavimentum “a floor, paved surface,” which itself comes from pavire “to pave” from pavis “paving” of unknown ultimate origin. The sense began in English in the late 14th century referring to a paved surface, and broadened in many varieties of English-speaking countries. In British English, pavement has long meant the sidewalk or area at the edge of a street; in American English, pavement often denotes any hard, non-soil surface suitable for walking, including sidewalks but sometimes used more broadly. The term has rich usage in urban planning and civil engineering, reflecting the saturation of built environments with durable ground coverings. Over centuries, paving materials evolved from stones to bricks, tiles, asphalt, and concrete, shaping the everyday language around urban mobility and pedestrian safety.
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Words that rhyme with "pavements"
-nts sounds
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