2 syllables: Se, ries. Stress on Se.
SIR-eez
/ˈsɪɹiz/
Series is pronounced SIR-eez (/ˈsɪɹiz/). It has two syllables (Se-ries), with the stress on "Se". Series (n.) A set of related things or events that follow a particular order, such as a TV series or a mathematical series. It refers to consecutive elements or episodes that are linked by a common theme or pattern, often developed across multiple parts. In math, it denotes the sum of infinitely or finitely many terms. The plural form is commonly used in everyday speech and writing.
nounSeries (n.) A set of related things or events that follow a particular order, such as a TV series or a mathematical series. It refers to consecutive elements or episodes that are linked by a common theme or pattern, often developed across multiple parts. In math, it denotes the sum of infinitely or finitely many terms. The plural form is commonly used in everyday speech and writing.
How to Pronounce Series
"The TV series has just released its final season."
"A series of questions followed, each building on the last."
"In math, the geometric series converges under certain conditions."
Pronounce as ˈsɪriz in US English, with the first syllable stressed. The vowel in the first syllable is a short 'i' as in 'sit', followed by a clear 'riː' sound close to 'ree' or 'rye' depending on accent, and end with a voiced final 'z'. In IPA: US: ˈsɪriz; UK: ˈsɪəriːz; AU: ˈsiːriːz. You can think of it as 'SIZ-reez' with the 'ri' part more syllabic in some accents.
Common errors include pronouncing it as two separate syllables with a long 'ee' in the middle or starting with a long 'S' without a reduced vowel. Another frequent mistake is pronouncing the second syllable as 'sere-ies' with an extra syllable. Instead, keep the second syllable as 'riz' with a reduced vowel sound in the middle and a clear 'z' at the end: US ˈsɪriz, UK ˈsɪəriːz.
In US English, the first syllable has a short 'i' and the second syllable is 'riz' with a clear 'z' (ˈsɪriz). In UK English, there is often a more centralized or elongated second vowel, sometimes sounding closer to ˈsɪəriːz with a longer 'ee' quality, and more syllable-timing. Australian English tends to merge vowels, producing ˈsiːriːz with a longer first vowel and a slightly flatter final consonant, but still ends with a voiced 'z'.
Key challenges are vowel quality and syllable rhythm: the first syllable uses a short 'i' and the second syllable enters with a consonant-vowel transition that can trigger a quick, reduced unstressed vowel. The final 's' is voiced, which subtly changes cohesion between syllables. For non-native speakers, maintaining the stress on the first syllable while producing a fluent rise to the 'riz' without inserting an extra vowel is crucial.
The word contains a near-diphthong feel between the middle vowel and the 'r' in certain accents, which can cause a perceived 'rye' or 'ree' depending on speaker. Paying attention to lip rounding and tongue position for the middle vowel helps; in many accents, the second syllable transitions quickly from a lax 'ri' to a voiced 'z'. This subtle shift is a hallmark of fluent pronunciation for 'series'.
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The word series comes from Latin series, meaning 'a row, chain, or succession,' from the verbserere 'to bind together' (serere: to join, bind). The Latin term passed into Old French as serye and then into Middle English as serie or serie, reflecting a semantic shift toward a connected sequence of items or events. In mathematics, the term evolved in the 17th–18th centuries as analysts examined sums of terms in a sequence, extending its use from literature and rhetoric to precise numerical constructs. The plural form series has remained unchanged in English, even when the noun denotes a single continuous concept (the “series” of episodes), though some contexts may treat it as singular or plural in agreement depending on emphasis. First known English uses appear in medieval and early modern texts where 'series' described a chain or lineup of items, gradually specializing to modern mathematical and media-related senses.
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Words that rhyme with "Series"
-ies sounds
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