/səˈfaɪsɪz/
suffices is pronounced /səˈfaɪsɪz/. Suffices is the third-person singular present tense and noun form of the verb suffice, meaning to meet the needs or requirements of something, or an amount that satisfies. In most contexts you’ll hear it as a verb (he suffices) or as a plural noun meaning things that suffice. The pronunciation remains consistent across uses, highlighting a short.
Say it backSuffices is the third-person singular present tense and noun form of the verb suffice, meaning to meet the needs or requirements of something, or an amount that satisfies. In most contexts you’ll hear it as a verb (he suffices) or as a plural noun meaning things that suffice. The pronunciation remains consistent across uses, highlighting a short
"Her evidence suffices to prove the claim."
"The company’s profits suffices for their needs for now."
"One victory suffices, but it isn’t enough to celebrate."
US/UK/AU pronunciation is /ˈsʌfɪˌsiz/ or /ˈsʌfəsɪz/ depending on whether you treat it as a verb (suh-FIS-es) or noun (SUF-fuh-siz). The primary stress is on the first syllable, with a secondary stress on the third in some dialects. Start with a crisp /s/ followed by /ʌ/ (as in cut), then /f/ and /ɪ/ or /ə/ depending on vowel reduction, ending with /siz/ as in “seas.”
Two common errors: 1) Misplacing the stress, saying su-FI-ses or SUF-uh-siz; keep primary stress on the first syllable and a light, unstressed final -es. 2) Slurring the vowel: don’t reduce /ʌ/ to a schwa in first syllable; maintain a clear /ʌ/ as in ‘stuff.’ For verbs, ensure the final /ɪz/ is pronounced, not /ɪs/ or /z/. Practicing with minimal pairs helps: suffices vs sufficed vs sufficiency clarifies the ending /siz/.
In US/UK/AU, the first syllable generally carries primary stress: /ˈsʌfɪ/ . The final -ces can be /siz/ in many dialects; rhotic or non-rhotic accents don’t shift the core vowels for the verb form. Australians may show a slightly broader /ɪ/ or /iː/ in the second syllable depending on regional vowels, with less vowel reduction in fast speech. Overall, the main accents diverge mainly in vowel quality of /ʌ/ and the presence of rhotic r in connected speech.
Because of the contrastive /ʌ/ vs /ə/ in fast speech and the final /siz/ cluster that can blur into /sɪz/ or /zɪz/. The first syllable is stressed, so you must start with a strong /s/ plus /ʌ/ and not reduce it. The -f- followed by /ɪ/ or /ə/ creates an unstable vowel sequence. People often mispronounce it as /ˈsɪfəs/ or omit the final /z/ sound. Focus on keeping /ɪ/ clear before the /z/.
Yes—when used as a noun, suffices is plural and denotes things that meet the requirement, while as a verb it means to be enough. The pronunciation remains the same, but the context changes meaning and occasionally the stress in certain compound phrases (“the suffices of the agreement” would be unusual). Additionally, the noun sense can carry formal or legal tone, affecting your phrasing and intonation to reflect precision and formality.
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Suffice comes from Latin sufficere, composed of sub- (under, up to) + efficere (to bring about, to accomplish). In Latin, sufficere meant to bring up to, be sufficient, or to bring under control. The present English noun suffices emerged later as a plural noun form distinct from the verb, used in legal or formal contexts to denote things that meet a need. The verb suffices, with third-person singular -es, inherits the sense of “is enough” from the root word sufficere, preserving the idea of adequacy. The shift from Latin to Old French and then Middle English carried nuances of adequacy and sufficiency into common usage; by Early Modern English, suffices appeared in legal and administrative language to refer to items or actions that meet the required standard. Today, suffices as a verb and as a plural noun remains relatively formal, with its sense closely tied to adequacy and suitability in practical contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "suffices" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "suffices" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "suffices"
-ces sounds
-ses sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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