rays
/ɹeɪs/
race is pronounced rays (/ɹeɪs/). Race is a short, single-syllable word referring to a contest of speed or a categorization of humans based on perceived physical traits. It also appears in phrases like “in the race” or “racial equality.” In linguistics it’s a single morpheme with /reɪs/ pronunciation. The meaning shifts with context, but the pronunciation remains a compact, closed syllable centered on the long vowel /eɪ/ and final voiceless /s/.
Race is a short, single-syllable word referring to a contest of speed or a categorization of humans based on perceived physical traits. It also appears in phrases like “in the race” or “racial equality.” In linguistics it’s a single morpheme with /reɪs/ pronunciation. The meaning shifts with context, but the pronunciation remains a compact, closed syllable centered on the long vowel /eɪ/ and final voiceless /s/.
- Common phonetic challenge: long /eɪ/ diphthong is sometimes shortened to /e/ or lengthened; ensure the glide from /r/ to /eɪ/ is smooth and not abrupt. - Final /s/ can be devoiced or voice-assimilated to /z/ in rapid speech; keep it voiceless. - R-colored vowels: some speakers over- or under-voice the /ɹ/, leading to an 'aw' or 'rayce' sounding; maintain a clear alveolar approximant followed by /eɪ/. - Corrective tips: Training your mouth to move from /r/ to /eɪ/ by practicing “rr-ei” sequences, recording and playback to check voicing, and shaping /s/ with a light breath release.
"- The 100-meter dash was a tight race."
"- She joined the charity race to raise funds."
"- Historical debates about race and identity continue."
Pronounce it as /reɪs/. It’s a single-syllable word with a long diphthong /eɪ/ starting with an open-mid front tongue position, then a tight /s/ at the end. Your mouth starts wide for the /r/, glides into the /eɪ/ diphthong with a mid-to-high tongue position, and finishes with a crisp /s/. IPA: /reɪs/. Listen to a native speaker and mirror the mouth shape: rounded lips slightly as you move from /r/ to /eɪ/ to /s/.
Common mistakes: pronouncing it with a short /æ/ as in ‘rash,’ or with a voiceless velar stop before the /s/ (saying /reɪks/). Another mistake is softening the /r/ into a more fronted /ɹ/ without proper onset. Correction: keep the /r/ as an American/UK rhotic approximant /ɹ/, use the /eɪ/ diphthong clearly, and end with a crisp /s/. Practice reading aloud with careful mouth transitions to avoid vowel shortening.
In US English, /ɹeɪs/ with rhotic /ɹ/ and a bright /eɪ/; in UK English, /reɪs/ typically with non-rhotic /r/ realization and a closer, shorter /eɪ/ depending on dialect; in Australian English, /ɹeɪs/ with a centralized /ɹ/ and a slightly broader, more nasal /eɪ/. All share the final /s/ but vowel quality and r-coloring vary by rhoticity and vowel length. IPA references: US /ɹeɪs/, UK /reɪs/, AU /ɹeɪs/.
The challenge is the subtle distinction between /eɪ/ as a tense glide and the trailing /s/ in rapid speech, plus keeping the onset crisp after /r/. Some learners merge /r/ with a softer vowel or insert a vowel before /s/ (creating /reɪsɪ/). Also, in weak-stressed contexts, the vowel can shorten inadvertently, or the /s/ may become a /z/ if voicing leaks. Focus on the clean, abrupt end with /s/.
No. 'Race' is pronounced with all letters represented: /r/ (or /ɹ/), /eɪ/ (diphthong), and /s/. There is no silent letter. The challenge is not silent letters but articulation: onset /r/ and the /eɪ/ diphthong’s glide, followed by a crisp /s/. If you hear a longer vowel or a /z/ outcome, you’re likely smoothing the final /s/ into a voiced sound inadvertently.
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- US: rhotic /ɹ/; keep the tongue tip near the alveolar ridge without bunched resistance, and produce a bright /eɪ/. - UK: non-rhotic /r/; the /eɪ/ remains but the /r/ is less pronounced, follow with crisp /s/. - AU: rhotic friendliness with mild American influence; /ɹ/ is present, vowel may be broader and slightly centralized; aim for a steady /eɪ/ with a clear /s/.
Race comes from Middle English rennen and Old French racer, meaning to run or hasten. The modern athletic sense developed in the 16th–17th centuries as racing became a formal competition. The term race as a categorization of people emerged in the 16th–19th centuries within colonial and scientific discourse, tying social classification to perceived physical traits. The Proto-Italic root *rapa- or *rana- is associated with rapid movement; later semantic shifts framed race in both sport and social taxonomy. First known uses appear in English texts around the 14th century in the sense of “to run” and the 17th century in sport contexts. By the 18th–19th centuries, race was entrenched in debates about human groups, often linked to crude classifiers. In modern usage, race can denote both a competition and a social construct about group identity, with continuing sensitivity around how the term is applied. The etymology reflects movement, speed, and social categorization, with meanings expanding and contracting across cultures and periods.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "race" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "race" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "race"
-ace sounds
-ase 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.
