STER-kays
/ˈstɛˌɹkeɪs/
staircase is pronounced STER-kays (/ˈstɛˌɹkeɪs/). Staircase (n.) a set of steps arranged in a usually continuous series for climbing between floors or levels. It can also refer to any progression resembling a staircase, such as a staircase-shaped motif in design or data visualization. The word combines the meaning of steps with a rising guide, and is commonly used in architecture, interior design, and metaphorical phrases.
Staircase (n.) a set of steps arranged in a usually continuous series for climbing between floors or levels. It can also refer to any progression resembling a staircase, such as a staircase-shaped motif in design or data visualization. The word combines the meaning of steps with a rising guide, and is commonly used in architecture, interior design, and metaphorical phrases.
- You may flatten the first diphthong, saying /stɛr/ instead of /ˈstɛər/; fix by rounding the lips slightly and elongating the vowel to let the /r/ or /ər/ form naturally. - You might run the /t/ into /k/ producing /stærkeɪs/; keep a crisp /t/ before the /k/ with a tiny pause or release. - Neglecting the final /s/ or making it a voiced /z/ can blur the ending; keep voiceless, sharp /s/ by keeping the tongue near the alveolar ridge.
"The hotel lobby opened onto a grand staircase that led to the mezzanine."
"She counted the staircase as she climbed to the attic."
"The staircase creaked under each careful step."
Pronounce as /ˈstɛrˌkeɪs/ in US and /ˈsteəˌkeɪs/ in UK/AU. Stress falls on the first syllable STAIR, with a secondary emphasis on the second syllable '-case' depending on speaker. Start with the /st/ cluster, then /ɛər/ or /eə/, then /keɪs/. Mouth positions: lips neutral to slightly rounded for /eɪ/, tongue bunched for /ɛər/ in US; ensure the /st/ is clean, not blending into /s/ too quickly. For listening reference, imagine the word ‘stair’ followed by ‘case’ without a pause.
Common errors include: 1) Turning /stɛər/ into a flat /stair/ without proper vowel height, and 2) Slurring /keɪs/ with /k/ or forgetting the separating vowel. Correction: keep clear /ɛər/ (or /eə/ in UK) before /keɪs/, ensure the /r/ is lightly pronounced in rhotic accents, and avoid conflating the /t/ with a syllabic /r/. Practice with deliberate vowel length: /ˈstɛər/ vs /ˈsteə/. 3) Don’t overshift the final /s/; make the final /s/ voiceless and crisp.
In US, /ˈstɛərˌkeɪs/ with rhotic /r/ and a tense /ɛər/ diphthong; the second syllable carries less vocalic emphasis. UK/AU tend toward /ˈsteəˌkeɪs/ with a non-rhotic /r/ and a clearer /eə/ vowel in the first syllable; the /r/ at the end of ‘stair’ is not pronounced. Australians often mirror UK English but with slight vowel merge and a shorter /eə/. Overall, vowel quality shifts between /ɛər/ (US) and /eə/ (UK/AU). Practicing with minimal pairs helps identify subtle differences.
The challenge lies in blending a consonant cluster /st/ with the diphthong in /stair/ and then attaching /keɪs/. The US /ɛər/ or UK /eə/ diphthong can be tricky, especially for speakers whose first language has a simple vowel. The light /r/ in rhotic vs non-rhotic accents changes the ending rhythm; maintaining a consistent pace between the two syllables while preserving crisp /t/ and /s/ at the juncture demands precise tongue configuration and timing.
There are no silent letters in staircase. The stress is on the first syllable: STAIRS-case. The second syllable is unstressed but clearly enunciated as /keɪs/. The key is sustaining a short, crisp /t/ before the /keɪs/ and avoiding a glottal stop that can blur the /t/ in rapid speech.
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US: rhotic /r/ present; ensure /stair/ ends with a strong /r/ and a compact /ɛər/; the /r/ should curl slightly at the tip; UK/AU: non-rhotic accents; /r/ at end of syllable is silent; focus on the /eə/ or /ɛə/ transition to /keɪs/. Vowels: US /ɛə/ vs UK /eə/; mouth opens wider for /ɛ/ in US; /eɪ/ in /keɪs/ requires a touch of tense glide. Consonants: keep /t/ crisp and avoid flapping in careful speech; /s/ is voiceless and sharp; /k/ is velar stop cleanly released. IPA references: US /ˈstɛərˌkeɪs/, UK/AU /ˈsteəˌkeɪs/.
Staircase derives from the combination of stair, meaning a step or flight of stairs, and case, used in older English to denote a structure or enclosed space. The term first appears in Middle English as staircase and has been used since the 16th century to describe a connected series of steps forming a vertical ascent. The word stair itself traces to Old English stege (stair, stairway) with Germanic roots, reflecting the practical function of ascending between levels. Over time, staircase broadened from a simple flight of steps to any architectural feature designed for ascent with rails and landings, and later to metaphorical uses (staircase effect in analysis, staircase patterns in data visualizations). First known printed usage appeared in architectural treatises and building regulations from the early modern period, with the term becoming commonplace in both technical descriptions and everyday language by the 1700s. In modern usage, staircase is a robust, generic term that often coexists with more specific terms like stairway, steps, or flight, depending on regional preferences and architectural tradition.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "staircase" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "staircase"
-ace sounds
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