rip-LEYEZ
/ɹɪˈplaɪz/
replies is pronounced rip-LEYEZ (/ɹɪˈplaɪz/). Replies is the third-person singular form of the verb reply, or the plural noun meaning responses. In verbs, it denotes responding to a statement or question; as a noun, it refers to multiple responses. The word commonly appears in conversations, emails, and forums to indicate an answer or retort. Phonetically, it ends with a voiced -z or -s pluralization sound depending on the preceding consonant.
Replies is the third-person singular form of the verb reply, or the plural noun meaning responses. In verbs, it denotes responding to a statement or question; as a noun, it refers to multiple responses. The word commonly appears in conversations, emails, and forums to indicate an answer or retort. Phonetically, it ends with a voiced -z or -s pluralization sound depending on the preceding consonant.
"She replies to every customer email within 24 hours."
"The committee members replies with a unanimous decision."
"Please send your questions; the speakers will reply after the Q&A."
Pronounce it as ri-PLYZ, with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US /rɪˈplaɪz/, UK /rɪˈplaɪz/, AU /rɪˈplaɪz/. Start with a short, relaxed r, then a reduced 'ri' vowel, followed by the bold /plaɪ/ (like 'ply') and a voiced final /z/. Ensure the mouth closes smoothly after the diphthong to produce a clear final /z/. Audio references: consult dictionaries with native speaker audio for /rɪˈplaɪz/.
Two common mistakes: misplacing stress as RE-plies, and pronouncing the final consonant as /s/ or /dʒ/? no, the actual is /plaɪz/. To correct: stress the second syllable, ensure the 'ai' diphthong is long, and voice the final /z/. Avoid turning it into 're-plies' with a hard 'e' in the first syllable; keep /ɪ/ before /plaɪ/. Practice with minimal pairs: 'replies' vs 'replies' (as noun vs verb), but the sound remains the same; focus on the /z/ energy.
Across US/UK/AU, the pronunciation is similar: /rɪˈplaɪz/. Subtle differences: Americans may have slightly stronger rhotic r and a more centralized /ɪ/ in the unstressed syllable, UK tends toward a crisper /ɪ/ and sometimes a shorter /ɐ/ in weak vowels, while Australian often has a slightly flatter /ɪ/ and more relaxed diphthongization. The final /z/ remains voiced. Keep the second syllable stressed and watch for vowel reduction in rapid speech.
The challenge lies in the two-part structure: stressing the diphthong /aɪ/ in the second syllable and ending with a voiced fricative /z/. The transition from /plaɪ/ to /z/ requires precise voicing; many speakers fuse the /ɪ/ into a shorter schwa before /ˈplaɪz/. Maintain clear lip rounding for the /aɪ/ and avoid turning the final /z/ into /s/ in rapid speech.
A unique nuance is that 'replies' merges the plural noun and third-person verb form with identical pronunciation, so context determines meaning. The second-syllable stress remains consistent whether you talk about multiple replies (nouns) or he/she replies (verbs). This makes it important to rely on surrounding words or punctuation to parse meaning in speech and writing.
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Replies derives from the verb reply, which comes from the Old French replyer, from re- (back, again) +plier (fold). The noun sense of ‘response’ traces to late Middle English with similar roots, influenced by Old French reponse. The verb sense developed to describe answering in speech or writing, while the noun form refers to a response itself. The modern spelling consolidated in Early Modern English, with the plural noun form ‘replies’ common in written and spoken registers. The evolution reflects a shift from a general act of answering to discrete instances of response in dialogue, correspondence, and online interaction. First known uses appear in Middle English documents, with stable usage by the 16th–17th centuries in legal and scholarly prose, expanding massively with print culture and, later, digital communication, where ‘replies’ signifies multiple instances of responding, especially in threaded conversations and comment sections.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "replies" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "replies" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "replies"
-ies sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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