/kwoʊts/
Say it backQuotes refers to repeated lines or passages from literature, or the act of citing something verbatim. In lowercase or plural form, it commonly denotes multiple quoted passages, speech marks, or quotations as a concept in writing and speech. The term is also used in computing and web contexts to denote quoted strings. It is a short, monosyllabic word consisting of a single syllable in most dialects.
"She opened the book and underlined the famous quotes."
"The teacher asked you to use quotation marks around the quotes from the poem."
"Online you’ll see many quotes in their bio sections."
You pronounce it as /kwoʊts/ in General American and /kwəʊts/ in many UK and AU varieties. The initial consonant cluster is a hard /k/ followed by the rounded /w/ and mid-front vowel /oʊ/ (or /əʊ/ in UK/AU). Final sound is /ts/, a voiceless alveolar affricate. Keep the /t/ crisp and release into /s/ for a clean ending.
Common errors include treating it as /ˈkwaʊts/ with a diphthong misarticulation or dropping the /t/ before /s/ leading to /ˈkwoʊs/ or /kwoʊs/. Another frequent mistake is not producing the final /ts/ blend clearly, yielding a weak /t/ or just /s/. To correct: ensure a brief pause between /t/ and /s/ sound is avoided; instead, produce a crisp /t/ then an immediate /s/ in a single, fluent release.
In US English, the word centers on /kwoʊts/ with a clear /oʊ/ diphthong and a firm /ts/ ending; non-rhotic variation is rare. In UK English, /kwəʊts/ leans to a centralized /əʊ/ or /əʊ/ in many dialects, with a slightly lighter /t/ release before /s/. Australian English tends to be similar to UK but may show even more centralized /əʊ/ and a softer /t/ release. Across all, the rhoticity is minimal here; the key is crisp final /ts/ for naturalness.
The difficulty lies in coordinating a rapid consonant cluster at the end: the /t/ release followed directly by /s/ requires precise timing and tongue position. The preceding /oʊ/ diphthong also needs stable jaw/lip shaping so the transition to /t/ is crisp. For non-native speakers, tonal or syllabic stress patterns in larger phrases can pull focus away from the small ending cluster. Practice with minimal pairs to stabilize the vowel and ensure a clean /ts/ ending.
One unique aspect is whether to voice the final /t/ in connected speech; many speakers assimilate to a more alveolar /t+s/ sequence, especially in rapid speech, making it feel like /kwoʊts/ vs. /kwoʊtsɪz/ in casual contexts. The word itself remains monosyllabic for most dialects; the focus is on a precise /t/ release into /s/ to avoid a light or swallowed final sound.
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The word quotes originates from the noun quote, derived from the verb quote meaning to cite or reference a source. It ultimately traces through Old French quotier or quoter and Latin quotare, from quotus meaning “of what, whatever,” related to quotus in cuius. The use of quotation marks to encase spoken or cited material emerged in scholarly writing in the 16th–17th centuries as printers sought to reproduce spoken language more accurately. The noun “quote” abbreviation for quotation came into broader English use in the 19th and 20th centuries with the rise of journalism, academia, and the digital age; “quotes” as the plural noun or verb form became common in both formal and informal contexts. Over time, quotes have extended beyond literature to include notable sayings, famous lines, and quoted strings in programming and data contexts, retaining their core function: to indicate spoken or cited material, or to represent a string of characters in code. First known uses appear in English literature and legal texts where citations and speech attributions were explicitly marked, evolving into today’s widespread both textual and digital usage.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "quotes" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "quotes"
-ats sounds
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