/ˈstæˌtʃuz/
statues is pronounced /ˈstæˌtʃuz/. Statues are upright, sculpted representations of beings or objects, typically crafted of stone, metal, or plaster. In common usage, the term refers to multiple sculpted figures displayed outdoors or indoors. The plural noun conveys the idea of several individual works rather than a single piece, often serving commemorative or decorative purposes in public spaces or galleries.
Say it backStatues are upright, sculpted representations of beings or objects, typically crafted of stone, metal, or plaster. In common usage, the term refers to multiple sculpted figures displayed outdoors or indoors. The plural noun conveys the idea of several individual works rather than a single piece, often serving commemorative or decorative purposes in public spaces or galleries.
"The city installed several statues along the riverfront to celebrate its pioneers."
"Tourists flock to the museum to view the ancient statues from classical civilizations."
"During the festival, the statues in the square were illuminated with soft lights at dusk."
Pronounce as /ˈstæt.juːz/ in UK and US; in many American accents you’ll hear a linking /-tʃ/ cluster: the sequence /tj/ can sound like /tʃ/ to some ears, but standard is two syllables: STAT-ues with a light -tuːz following the t. Stress falls on the first syllable: STĀ-chooz. Begin with a strong /st/ cluster, then /æ/ as in cat, then a light /t/ before /juː/ or /uː/ depending on accent. Audio reference: imagine saying “statue” but add a voiceless plural ending /-z/. IPA: US/UK /ˈstæt.juːz/, AU /ˈstæt.juːz/.
Common mistakes: 1) Treating it as two equal parts without a subtle /t/ release leading to /ˈstætɪjuːz/; 2) Dropping the /j/ and saying /ˈstæt.uːz/; 3) Pronouncing as /ˈstætjuːs/ with a final /s/ instead of /z/. Corrections: emphasize the /t/ before /j/ so it’s /t.j/ and keep the /juː/ as a distinct syllable, not merged; use a clear /z/ ending. Practice with minimal pairs to stabilize the /juː/ onset after /t/.
US: /ˈstætˌjuːz/ or /ˈstæt.juːz/, with light linking between /t/ and /j/. UK: typically /ˈstæt.juːz/ with a crisp /t/ and less vowel rounding; AU: /ˈstæt.juːz/ similar to UK, but vowel height and rhotics vary regionally. The main difference is rhoticity and vowel length; US often has slightly longer /uː/ and more noticeable /j/ glide in some speech.Overall, expect two syllables in most dialects, stress on first syllable, with /juː/ as a strong glide.
The difficulty centers on the /t/ before /j/ and the /juː/ cluster, which can blur in faster speech. The transition between /t/ and /j/ should be a clean release rather than an intrusive vowel. Also, the plural ending /-z/ requires precise voicing; many non-native speakers mispronounce it as /-s/ or /-z/ inconsistently. Practicing the /tj/ sequence slowly helps the tongue move from a front alveolar stop to a palatal glide smoothly.
A unique concern is avoiding the mispronunciation that merges /tj/ into /tʃ/ (like ‘choose’) for some speakers; keep /tj/ as a distinct sequence rather than a combined /tʃ/. Another is ensuring the plural ending carries a voiced /z/ rather than the unvoiced /s/ in careful enunciation, especially in careful or formal speech. IPA for the ending is /-z/.
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US: rhotic, but non-rhotic tendencies exist in some dialects; vowel height in /æ/ is slightly higher, and /juː/ is often a clear glide. UK: non-rhotic; /r/ is not pronounced; stress remains on first syllable; the /juː/ may be shorter; AU: varied; often realized with a slightly more open /æ/ and a stronger /j/ onset. IPA references: US/UK /ˈstæt.juːz/, AU /ˈstæt.juːz/.
Statue comes from the Latin statua, meaning a standing part or a figure, which itself derives from stare, ‘to stand.’ The English word statue entered from Old French statue in the 13th century, retaining the sense of a three-dimensional figure in space. Over time, the plural statues extended the meaning to multiple such figures rather than a single representation. In English, the plural -es form is typical of words of French origin. The sense broadened from religious or royal figures in antiquity to any carved representation in stone or metal, and later to modern sculpture in various media. The pronunciation, with the plural -es, reflects natural English pluralization and occasional regional variation in final consonant realization. First known use in English traces to medieval texts depicting carved images or reliefs as “statues” of saints and rulers, gradually becoming the common term for both classical and contemporary sculptural works housed in museums and public spaces.
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Words that rhyme with "statues"
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