2 syllables: Pos, sess. Stress on sess.
puh-ZES
/pəˈzɛs/
Possess is pronounced puh-ZES (/pəˈzɛs/). It has two syllables (Pos-sess), with the stress on "sess". Possess is a verb meaning to have or own something, or to control something as a quality or feature. It can also mean to dominate or be possessed by a strong feeling. In everyday use, it denotes ownership, control, or influence, often in possessive constructions or phrases like “possessive pronouns.”.
verbPossess is a verb meaning to have or own something, or to control something as a quality or feature. It can also mean to dominate or be possessed by a strong feeling. In everyday use, it denotes ownership, control, or influence, often in possessive constructions or phrases like “possessive pronouns.”
"She possesses a rare collection of antique maps."
"This region possesses rich mineral resources."
"The team possesses great potential despite recent setbacks."
Pronounce as po-ZESS with two syllables. IPA US: /pəˈzɛs/; UK/US dictionaries align as /pəˈses/ or /pəˈzɛs/ depending on listing. The main stress is on the second syllable. Start with a schwa (pə) before a crisp TZ sound /ˈz/, then the vowel /ɛ/ or /e/ and final /s/. Practice by saying ‘pa’ quickly, then glide into /ˈzɛs/ to prevent a staccato ending. You’ll want the tongue lightly against the alveolar ridge for /z/ and keep the lips relaxed.
Common mistakes include saying /ˈpɒsɛs/ with British short 'o' or misplacing stress as on the first syllable. People also sometimes voice-mispronounce the final consonant as /z/ instead of a clear /s/ or reverse the consonant cluster, producing /ˈzɒsˌɛs/. The correction: keep stress on the second syllable, use a clear /z/ for the second syllable onset and finish with a proper /s/ voiceless sibilant, and ensure the initial vowel is a mid-central schwa /ə/ rather than a full vowel.
In US English, /pəˈzɛs/ with a clear /z/ and a slightly lowered /ɛ/. UK speakers often prefer /pəˈses/ with a slightly tenser second vowel and a crisper /s/ at the end. Australian speakers typically align with /pəˈses/ but may have a broader final /s/ with less vowel reduction in the first syllable. The rhoticity is minimal, but vowel quality varies: US tends to /ɛ/ as in ‘dress,’ UK may lean toward /e/ in some dialects, AU sits somewhere between. Record yourself and compare with native samples to tune the vowel and voicing differences.
The difficulty stems from the two-syllable rhythm with secondary stress on the second syllable and the need to clearly distinguish /z/ from /s/ at the end. American and British listeners expect a precise /z/ onset in the second syllable and a final voiceless /s/. Coarticulation with preceding schwa can soften the first syllable; ensure the first syllable is unstressed and relaxed while maintaining crisp sibilants in the second syllable. Practice with minimum pairs to stabilize the transition between /z/ and /s/, and rely on controlled breath to avoid a swallowed ending.
Possess is characterized by a clean second syllable with a strong /z/ onset followed by a voiceless /s/ ending. Unlike many two-syllable verbs with final -ess, its pronunciation requires avoiding vowel reduction in the second syllable and maintaining a distinct /z/ onset. The key is to articulate /z/ distinctly before the /ɛ/ vowel and to end with a crisp, unvoiced /s/. This is often learned via listening and repeating native samples, then matching timing and energy to a tutor or good pronunciation video.
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Possess comes from the Old French possess, from Latin possidere, which combines potis ‘powerful, able’ with sedere ‘to sit’ or ‘to settle.’ The Latin root poss- meaning ‘be able’ evolved through Old French into English. The form possess in English appeared by the 14th century, initially in legal and scholastic contexts to denote holding property or dominion. Over time, its usage broadened to include mental or abstract ownership, such as possessing characteristics or qualities, and to convey control in idiomatic expressions (e.g., possessive grammar, possess a fear). The word’s core sense of “to have as belonging to oneself” remains stable, while figurative senses—emotional possession or influence—emerged in modern usage as psychology and literature explored inner states and attributes. The pronunciation settled around two syllables with the stress on the second syllable in most varieties, though some forms may emphasize the first syllable in rapid speech or certain dialects. First known use in English literature appears in middle-late medieval texts discussing property and rights, aligning with its Latin roots in law and ownership.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Possess" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Possess"
-ess sounds
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