/ˈɹɛvəˌnuz/
Say it backRevenues are the income that a business or organization earns from its activities, typically before expenses are deducted. The term is used in financial reporting to describe total inflows from sales of goods and services, taxes, and other sources. It is a plural noun that denotes aggregate earnings over a period, and it often appears in contexts like annual revenues or projected revenues.
"The company reported record revenues for the fourth quarter."
"Analysts expect revenue growth to stabilize as costs rise."
"We forecast higher revenues next year due to expanded operations."
Pronounce as /ˈrɛvənˌjuːz/ in US and UK English, with stress on the first syllable and a secondary stress on the third syllable in fast speech: ˈrɛ-vən-ˌjuːz. The initial vowel is a short e as in 'red', the middle vowel is schwa, and the final sound is /juːz/ like 'youz'. In careful speech you may hear a light /r/ before the /ɛ/ in American English. Mouth position: start with a relaxed jaw, lift the tip of the tongue for /r/, then a mid-central vowel for /ə/. Consonants: /r/ (or /ɹ/), /v/, /j/ glide into /uːz/.
Common errors include under- or over-pronouncing the second syllable, producing /ˈrɪvənˌjus/ or /ˈrevənˌjus/ instead of /ˈrɛvənˌjuːz/. Another frequent issue is misplacing the stress, saying ri-ˈven-yəz. Correct by: (1) maintaining primary stress on the first syllable, (2) keeping the /ə/ as a soft schwa, and (3) ensuring the final /juːz/ is a clear /j/ + /uː/ + /z/ without turning into /s/ or /z/ alone.
In US/UK, /ˈrɛvəˌnuːz/ vs /ˈrɛvənˌjuːz/, with US often giving a reduced second syllable and a stronger /ˈr/ onset. UK may keep a slightly longer /ə/ and a less distinct /j/ transition before /uːz/. Australian English tends to merge /ˌjuː/ into a smoother /juː/ with less diphthongal movement, yielding /ˈrɛvəˌnjuːz/ or /ˈrɪˈvɒnˌjuːz/ depending on speaker. In all, main differences are vowel quality in the second syllable and the precise realization of the /juː/ sequence.
The difficulty comes from the three-syllable structure with a weak middle vowel and a stressed first syllable followed by a strong /juːz/ cluster. The transition from /v/ to /ən/ to /juː/ requires precise tongue movement and timing; the /juː/ sequence can blur into /uː/ and the final /z/ can sound like /s/ in rapid speech. Practice by isolating the /ˈrɛvə/ portion, then anchor the /ˈjuːz/ ending with clear lip rounding and voice onset.
Does the final /z/ in revenues ever become a voiced /z/ in rapid US financial reporting, or can it sound like a voiceless /s/? Answer: In careful pronunciation, the final portion is /-juːz/ with a voiced /z/. In very fast speech, some speakers may devoice the final /z/ and close with a hiss-like /s/, but this is less standard in formal contexts. Paying attention to voicing helps stay clear in presentations.
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US: /ˈrɛvəˌnuːz/; rhotics are pronounced; the /ə/ in the second syllable is a weak vowel. UK: /ˈrevənˌjuːz/ with non-rhoticity affecting the post-vocalic r, but in careful speech you still hear /r/ in some speakers. AU: /ˈrɛvəˌnjuːz/ with a smoother /juː/ and minor vowel height differences in the first syllable; more central vowel quality in the second syllable. Emphasize /ˈr/ onset, use a clear /j/ before /uː/ in all accents, and keep the final /z/ voiced. Reference IPA: US /ˈrɛvəˌnuːz/, UK /ˈrevənˌjuːz/, AU /ˈrɛvəˌnjuːz/.
Revenues derives from the Old French revenir, from Latin revenire meaning to come back, return. In medieval and early modern business Latin, revenire evolved into revenUS (revenue) in French, then rearised in English around the 15th century as revenue with a singular sense of income or return. The plural revenues emerged as accounting practice extended to plural inflows from multiple sources; the form is used chiefly in finance and business contexts. The root idea centers on a return or yield from enterprise, rather than the cost side. Over time, revenue has retained its core meaning of gross income before expenses, while “revenues” specifically emphasizes multiple streams or total inflows over a period. First known uses appear in financial records of European merchants, later standardizing in 18th–19th century commercial arithmetic and legal accounting where revenue was often contrasted with expenditure. English adoption of the term widened as corporate and governmental accounting matured, cementing revenues as a standard metric in financial statements and reports.
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Words that rhyme with "revenues"
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