/ˈɹɛmədiz/
Say it backRemedies are substances or actions intended to cure or alleviate a disease or pain. The term can also refer to legal recourse or measures taken to solve a problem. It denotes practical solutions, often approved or traditional, used to improve health or rectify a situation.
- You may default to a long /iː/ in the final syllable; keep it as /diz/ or /diz/ depending on dialect. - The middle syllable often gets swallowed; ensure it remains a clear /ə/ or /ɪ/ so the word doesn’t blur with the first syllable. - Misplacing stress on the second syllable; stress the first syllable clearly. - R-lessness in non-rhotic accents can affect the onset of the word; ensure the initial /r/ is audible in US if starting the word clearly.
"The pharmacist recommended herbal remedies for colds."
"There are several remedies available to treat the symptoms at home."
"The court granted him remedies to enforce the contract."
Pronounce as /ˈrɛm.ə.diːz/ (US) or /ˈrem.ɪ.diːz/ (UK/AU). The primary stress is on the first syllable: RE-. The middle syllable uses a neutral schwa or short /ɪ/ depending on speaker, and the final s is voiced /z/. At speed, the final /iːz/ can become /iz/. Tip: start with a crisp /ˈrɛm/ then lightly vocalize /ə/ in the second syllable before the final /diːz/.
Common mistakes: 1) misplacing stress, saying re-ME-dies instead of RE-me-dies; 2) confusing the final -ies as /iːz/ vs /iz/ causing length differences; 3) treating the second syllable as a full vowel like /eɪ/ instead of a neutral /ə/ or /ɪ/. Correction: keep primary stress on RE-, use a short, unstressed middle /ə/ or /ɪ/; end with a clear /diːz/ or /diz/. Practice with slow syllable isolation and then blend.
US: /ˈrɛm.ə.diz/ with a pronounced schwa in the middle and a voiced final /z/. UK/AU: /ˈrem.ɪ.diːz/ or /ˈrɛm.ɪ.diz/ with slightly crisper vowels; final often /z/ or /z/ depending on word pace. Rhoticity is relevant in US; UK/AU nonrhotic accents may reduce rhotics in unstressed syllables but not the final /z/. Overall, the first vowel may be more central in US; UK/AU may maintain a shorter /ɪ/ in the second syllable.
Difficulties center on 1) correct stress placement on RE- and not the second syllable; 2) maintaining a neutral middle syllable vowel (/ə/ or /ɪ/) without letting it fade into a schwa that merges with the first, and 3) final /diz/ vs /diz/ with a longer /iː/ in some dialects. Tongue position must adapt quickly from /r/ to a relaxed mid vowel, then to /d/ and final /z/. IPA cues help: /ˈrɛm.ə.diz/ or /ˈrem.ɪ.diːz/.
A unique aspect is the pluralization of a -y stem word with -ies; the spelling hides the underlying /iː/ or /i/ sound in pronunciation. In some speakers, the second syllable can be more clipped as /ˈrɛm-ə-/ or /ˈrem-ɪ-/ depending on speed, but the final -ies typically cues a /z/ or /ɪz/ ending. Focus on preserving two consonants between syllables without inserting extra vowel sounds.
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US: rhotic /r/ pronounced; middle vowel tends to be schwa or /ə/; final /diz/ with voiced z. UK: shorter, crisper vowels; final /diz/; non-rhotic so /r/ less audible in the syllable-final positions. AU: similar to US but with slight vowel merging; final /diz/ often maintained. IPA references help: US /ˈrɛm.ə.diz/, UK /ˈrem.ɪ.diːz/, AU /ˈrem.ɪ.diz/; ensure mouth opens for /r/ and /e/ vowel quality; practice with minimal pairs showing stressed first syllable vs others.
Remedies comes from Middle French remedie and Latin remedium, both meaning a cure, remedy, or means of healing. The Latin root remedium combines re- (back, again) with modus (manner, measure), signaling a way to restore or correct. In English, the term entered in the late Middle Ages to describe antidotes or treatments for illness, evolving to include legal or corrective measures more broadly. Through the centuries, remedies transitioned from strictly medical connotations to broader problem-solving strategies, retaining the sense of a corrective recourse. The first known English uses appear in medical texts of the 14th–15th centuries, with later expansion into law and policy contexts. The plural form remedies reflects how multiple options or forms of remedy may be available, mirroring the plural noun evolution common in English. In modern usage, remedies can refer to pharmacological preparations, home remedies, or legal remedies, each maintaining the core idea of restoring balance or redress.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "remedies" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "remedies" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "remedies"
-ies sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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