One syllable: Rites.
reyets
/ɹaɪts/
Rites is pronounced reyets (/ɹaɪts/). It has one syllable (Rites), with the stress on "Rites". Rites is a plural noun referring to formal ceremonies or rituals. It denotes established, ceremonial acts that mark a significant occasion or transition, typically performed within a cultural or religious context. The term emphasizes the process and formal elements of ceremony rather than the participants themselves.
nounRites is a plural noun referring to formal ceremonies or rituals. It denotes established, ceremonial acts that mark a significant occasion or transition, typically performed within a cultural or religious context. The term emphasizes the process and formal elements of ceremony rather than the participants themselves.
"The graduation rites were officiated by the dean."
"Ancient societies held intricate rites to honor their gods."
"The wedding rites included vows, music, and a traditional blessing."
Rites is pronounced as /raɪts/. The initial sound is the long
Common errors include misplacing the vowel as a short /ɪ/ (rhymes with ‘bits’) instead of the long /aɪ/ as in ‘rise,’ and adding an extra sound at the end (like /z/ or /s/). The correct ending is a clean /ts/ cluster: /raɪts/. Keep the final /t/ and /s/ together without a voiced vowel between them.
In US and UK there’s a rhotic-ness difference in related words, but ‘rites’ itself is a straightforward /raɪts/ in most dialects. UK speakers may have a slightly crisper /t/ release; US speakers often have a sharper final affricate release. Australian speakers generally align with /raɪts/ but with a more relaxed vowel quality and a shorter vocalic duration before the final consonant cluster.
The challenge lies in producing the clear /raɪ/ diphthong followed by the rapid /ts/ cluster. Many learners insert an extra vowel (e.g., /raɪ-ə-ts/) or devoice the final /s/. Focus on a clean glide from /aɪ/ into the voiceless alveolar affricate /ts/, with a light, unvoiced stop release for the /t/ before the /s/.
There are no silent letters in ‘rites’; it’s a simple CVC cluster ending with a voiceless /ts/. The letter sequence ‘-ites’ should be pronounced as two phonemes: /aɪ/ and /ts/. Mispronunciations often stem from pausing between /aɪ/ and /t/ or adding a vowel, so keep the /t/ and /s/ together tightly after the /aɪ/.
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Rites comes from the Latin word ritus, meaning ‘custom, practice, or religious ceremony.’ The Latin ritus itself derives from the verb rendere (to perform, to execute) through older religious and legal language in Roman culture. In medieval Latin, ritus broadened to mean not only specific ceremonies but the whole set of formalized religious practices used by a community. Over time, the word migrated into Old French as rite or rit, maintaining its ceremonial sense. In English, rite evolved into rites (plural) to denote multiple ceremonies or the collection of ceremonial acts within a tradition. The sense of ritual formalities remained stable into modern usage, though “rites” can be extended metaphorically to any formal or ceremonial procedures in secular contexts. First known use in English literature appears in religious and legal texts from the 14th to 15th centuries, with the plural form becoming common in discussions of religious rites and cultural rites across Europe. Etymology reflects a lineage of ritual governance and ceremonial law, preserving the idea that a rite is a prescripted, meaningful action within a social framework.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Rites" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Rites" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Rites"
-tes sounds
-hts sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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