STUHD-eez
/ˈstʌdiz/
studies is pronounced STUHD-eez (/ˈstʌdiz/). Studies is the plural noun or verb form of study, meaning organized, sustained examination of a subject or activity, or the act of examining something in detail. In everyday use, it often refers to research findings or scholarly work, or the act of dedicating time to learning. The word typically appears in academic, research, and formal contexts, but is also common in general discourse about learning.
Studies is the plural noun or verb form of study, meaning organized, sustained examination of a subject or activity, or the act of examining something in detail. In everyday use, it often refers to research findings or scholarly work, or the act of dedicating time to learning. The word typically appears in academic, research, and formal contexts, but is also common in general discourse about learning.
- You often slip into a single-syllable feel: try not to fuse STU and dies; produce two clear syllables with a strong first-stress and an audible final /iz/. - You may shorten the second syllable to /diz/ or /dɪz/ too quickly; aim for /diz/ with a crisp /d/ and voiced /z/. - Some learners run the first vowel toward /ɪ/ or /ə/; hold a distinct vowel like /ʌ/ or /juː/ depending on accent. - Practice with minimal pairs: /ˈstjuː.diz/ vs /ˈstjə.dɪz/ (UK US) to lock the glide.
"Recent studies show a link between sleep and memory consolidation."
"She conducts studies on language acquisition for her graduate project."
"The studies conducted over five years revealed surprising results."
Pronounce as /ˈstjuː.diz/ in UK US/ˈstʌd.iz/ US for some speakers? Actually US often /ˈstʌdiz/ or /ˈstjuː.diz/. The common form is two syllables with primary stress on the first: STU-dies. For clarity: /ˈstjuː.diz/ is common in careful British speech; many Americans simplify to /ˈstəd.iz/ in quick speech. Use /ˈstjuː.diz/ if you’d like to emphasize the initial y sound after s. In practice, you’ll hear /ˈstədiz/ in casual contexts. Keep the 'd' clear and the final /z/ voiced. Listening example: [audio reference: Pronounce or Cambridge online dictionary].
Common mistakes: 1) Flattening the vowel in the first syllable, saying /ˈstɛd.iz/ or /ˈstəd.iz/; correction: keep the short /ʌ/ as in 'cut' or, for some speakers, the /juː/ onset makes /ˈstjuː.diz/ with a light y-glide. 2) Dropping the second syllable consonant or making /diz/ sound like /dɪz/; correction: clearly release /d/ then add a voiced /z/. 3) Over-voicing the second syllable; correction: maintain a light, quick /ɪz/ ending. Practice with minimal pairs and slow practice to stabilize the initial vowel and the final z sound.
In US English, the first syllable may have /ˈstʌ.diz/ with a short vowel and a less distinct glide, while some speakers may use /ˈstjuː.diz/ where the initial /st/ is followed by a /j/ sound. UK English often favors /ˈstjuː.diz/ with a noticeable /juː/ onset and clearer /diz/ ending, while Australian English tends toward /ˈstjuː.diz/ or /ˈstʉː.diz/ with a more rounded vowel in /juː/ and a slightly more centralized /ə/ in unstressed vowels. Core rhyming with /iz/ remains consistent, but the preceding vowel and the presence of the /j/ glide can vary.
The difficulty stems from two features: a tense, rounded onset combining /stjuː/ or /stʌ/ with the rapid /d/ release, and the final /iz/ cluster that can lump as /ɪz/ or /iz/ in informal speech. The contrast between /juː/ and /ʌ/ in early syllable vowels, plus the final /z/ being voiced but very short in fast speech, challenges learners to preserve both syllable stress and the crisp /d/ stop. Practice ensuring clear /d/ release and consistent /z/ voicing in connected speech.
There’s no silent letter in the standard pronunciation of ‘studies.’ The word comprises two syllables with a clearly articulated /t/, /d/, and /z/ sounds. The prime challenge is the glide/monophthong choice after /st/ and the final /z/ duration. In careful speech you’ll hear a distinct /juː/ or /ʌ/ in the first syllable depending on speaker, but none of the letters are silent.
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- US: tends toward /ˈstʌ.dɪz/ or /ˈstə.diːz/ in quick speech; keep the first vowel compact and avoid a long /uː/. - UK: often /ˈstjuː.diz/ with a clear /j/ glide after /st/; the /juː/ is a true diphthong; - AU: similar to UK but with a more centralized first vowel in casual speech; the /juː/ glide can be slightly shorter. IPA references: US /ˈstʌ.dɪz/ or /ˈstjuː.diz/, UK /ˈstjuː.diz/, AU /ˈstjuː.diz/.
Studies derives from the verb study, which traces back to Middle English studien, from Old French studier or studier, ultimately from Latin studium meaning zeal, application, or study. The noun form ‘study’ entered English via Latin and French influences in the medieval period, referring to the act of applying oneself to scholarly pursuit. Pluralization to studies occurs when discussing multiple instances or types of study (nouns) or when using the verb form in third-person singular present tense (he studies). Over time, ‘study’ broadened to include systematic research endeavors, formal investigations, and the body of scholarly work produced, while the phrase ‘studies’ compacts these concepts into a plural reference. The evolution mirrors changes in education and science, from classical scholarship to modern empirical research, where ‘studies’ commonly denote published investigations across disciplines. First known uses in written English appear in the late medieval or early modern periods, with increasing frequency alongside the rise of universities and formal research cultures in Europe.
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Words that rhyme with "studies"
-ies sounds
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