spelz
/spɛlz/
spells is pronounced spelz (/spɛlz/). Spells refers to words or sequences believed to wield magical power, or to magic performed by reciting such words. It can also function as a third-person singular noun in contexts like a wizard’s enchantments, and as a verb meaning to enchant by reciting charms. The term commonly appears in fantasy literature, role-playing games, and discussions of occult practices.
Spells refers to words or sequences believed to wield magical power, or to magic performed by reciting such words. It can also function as a third-person singular noun in contexts like a wizard’s enchantments, and as a verb meaning to enchant by reciting charms. The term commonly appears in fantasy literature, role-playing games, and discussions of occult practices.
- Mispronouncing final /z/ as /s/: You’ll hear a voiceless hiss instead of buzzing. Ensure your vocal cords vibrate during /z/. Practice by feeling the vibration with a finger at your throat. - Over-lengthening the vowel /ɛ/: Keep the vowel short and clipped, like in 'red' rather than leaning toward /eɪ/ or /e/; this preserves the crisp stop before /lz/. - Incorrect /p/ release: The /p/ should be a quick, light release before the /ɛ/; avoid a heavy or delayed /p/ that can blur into /spælz/ or /spɛlz/ with too much air. - Coarticulation with following words: In fast speech, /spɛlz/ can run into the next word; practice with phrase-internal boundary awareness to keep the /z/ audible. - Misconstruing the word as plural of spell (as a verb) in rapid speech: separate practice with phrases like 'spells are' to train the final /z/ in context.
"The wizard uttered ancient spells to unlock the door."
"The village believed the talisman could cast spells of protection."
"She learned a few basic spells in the magical academy."
Pronounce as /spɛlz/ in US/UK/AU. Start with a clean /s/ hiss, then /p/ with a quick bilabial stop, followed by the short lax vowel /ɛ/ like in “bed.” End with the voiced alveolar fricative /z/. The final consonant is the z-sound, not an s hiss, so keep the vocal cords vibrating. Stress is on the word as a single syllable; you’ll hear a crisp closure before the final buzzing /z/. Audio examples: Cambridge/Oxford pronunciations and Forvo entries illustrate the same /spɛlz/ shape.
Two frequent errors: (1) pronouncing the final as /s/ (spels) instead of /z/—voiceless vs. voiced distinction matters; ensure your vocal cords vibrate for the /z/. (2) Lengthening the vowel or misplacing the /p/ release, leading to /spɛəlz/ or /spelz/. Visualize the sequence as /s/ + /p/ quick stop + short /ɛ/ then /lz/ with a buzzing /z/. Practice by alternating with evenly voiced pairs like /spɛlz/ vs /spɛls/ to feel the z difference.
In US/UK/AU, the core /spɛlz/ is consistent, but rhoticity affects preceding vowels in connected speech. In American accents, you often hear a stronger /r/ following vowels in linked words, but not within the word itself. The /z/ at the end remains voiced across all three, though Australian speech might slightly reduce vowel length and give a more centralized /ɛ/; the effect is subtle. Overall, the word remains a single syllable with a final /z/ in all three accents.
The difficulty centers on the final voiced /z/ after a stressed short vowel in a closed syllable, which can blur with a voiceless /s/ in rapid speech. Learners often tense up the lip and tongue for /s/ before the /z/, causing a lisp or mispronounced /z/. Additionally, the brief /ɛ/ can slide toward /e/ or /ɪ/ if the mouth closes prematurely. Smooth /p/ release followed by the tense /z/ is essential for a clean cue.
Spells has a straightforward pronunciation with no silent letters; it’s a one-syllable word with primary stress on the entire word. The challenge lies in precise voicing: ensure the /z/ is voiced and not realized as a terminal /s/. A common search query is whether the final sound is /z/ or /s/. The correct articulation is /spɛlz/, with the final /z/ providing a buzzing voicing audible in normal speech.
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- US: Emphasize rhotics and stress-neutral velocity; ensure /ɛ/ remains short and /z/ is clearly voiced. /spɛlz/ tends to connect with following vowels in rapid speech; keep lips relaxed. - UK: Often slightly shorter vowel duration; maintain crisp /p/ and /z/ with subtle lilt; jaw remains more forward and lips lightly rounded on /ɛ/. - AU: Slightly more centralized /ɛ/ and a tendency toward a lighter /z/ sensation; watch vowel height and keep the /z/ audible without extra voicing leaks. Use IPA as /spɛlz/ across accents.
Spells comes from the Old English spell, meaning a story, tale, or narrative, and by extension the formulaic utterance believed to have magical power. The root is related to the Proto-Germanic spellam, from which we also derive spurts of meaning around telling or reciting. In older usage, spell referred to a narrative or tale often incantatory in nature, then later shifted toward the magical formula or charm. The modern sense of a “magic formula spoken to produce a desired effect” emerged through medieval and early modern English, influenced by associations with incantations and enchantments in folklore. The plural form spells emphasizes a set of such utterances or a period of enchantment, distinct from individual incantations. First known uses appear in medieval texts where magical recitations were described in both religious and secular contexts, gradually stabilizing into the common fantasy vocabulary we use today.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "spells" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "spells" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "spells"
-lls sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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