SOOT-kays
/ˈsuˌtkeɪs/
suitcase is pronounced SOOT-kays (/ˈsuˌtkeɪs/). A portable container used for carrying personal belongings when traveling, typically with a handle and wheels. The term combines “suit” and “case,” originally referring to a case for a suit of clothes, now extended to any portable bag for holding items during travel. It denotes a common travel accessory across cultures and languages.
A portable container used for carrying personal belongings when traveling, typically with a handle and wheels. The term combines “suit” and “case,” originally referring to a case for a suit of clothes, now extended to any portable bag for holding items during travel. It denotes a common travel accessory across cultures and languages.
- You may flatten the vowel in 'suit' making /sɪt/ or /sɪt.keɪs/. Keep the long /uː/ quality, not a short /ɪ/ or /ʌ/. - Failing to release the /t/ before the /k/ of 'case' can merge sounds; ensure a distinct /t/ release: /suːt.keɪs/. - Stress misplacement where you say 'SUITcase' with even emphasis; maintain primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈsuːt.keɪs/. - In rapid speech, listeners can hear a 'suidcase' or 'suitcase' with a weak link; practice tying the syllables with a clean boundary, then natural rhythm.
"I packed my shirts and socks into a small suitcase for the weekend trip."
"The airline lost my suitcase, so I filed a claim at the counter."
"She bought a hard-shell suitcase with spinner wheels for easy maneuvering."
Pronounce as two syllables: /ˈsuːtˌkeɪs/ (US) or /ˈsjuːt.keɪs/ (UK). Start with /s/ + /uː/ forming 'suit' (like 'suit' in clothing) and attach /keɪs/ for 'case'. The primary stress is on the first syllable. In rapid speech you may hear a light linking between /t/ and /k/, but keep the /t/ release clear before /k/. IPA: US /ˈsuːtˌkeɪs/, UK /ˈsjuːt.keɪs/. Audio hints: place tongue high and back for /uː/, then release to /t/ promptly, glide into /keɪs/.
Common errors: 1) Slurring /t/ and /k/ together into a vague /tk/ without releasing the /t/; 2) Misplacing the stress, trying to split the stress evenly or stressing the second syllable; 3) Pronouncing /uː/ as a short /u/ or mixing /j/ in the initial cluster. Corrections: clearly release the /t/ before the /k/ of /keɪs/, keep /uː/ as a long vowel in 'suit,' and maintain primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈsuːt.keɪs/ (US). Consonant boundary clarity helps avoid ‘su-it-case’ mispronunciations.
US tends toward /ˈsuːtˌkeɪs/ with a strong /uː/ in ‘suit’ and clear /t/ release before /k/. UK often produces /ˈsjuːt.keɪs/ or /ˈsjuːt.keɪs/ with a glide after the initial consonant and non-rhoticity affecting intonation; AU follows similar patterns to UK but may show slightly broader vowel quality and less pronounced rhoticity in rapid speech. In all varieties, /keɪs/ stays consistent; differences are mainly in the initial vowel quality and possible linking of /t/ to /k/ in fast speech.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster boundary between /t/ and /k/ in rapid speech, and sustaining a long /uː/ vowel before a voiceless /t/. Also, some speakers reduce /ˈsuːt/ to /ˈsəːt/ or insert a subtle y-glide in stressed forms. To master it, practice the two-part chunk: /suːt/ then /keɪs/ separately, then blend with a clean /t/ release and a crisp /k/ onset.
A distinctive feature is the shift from /ˈsuːt/ to /ˈsjuːt/ in some British learners due to a slight palatal glide before /uː/ in certain dialects, producing /ˈsjuːt.keɪs/ instead of /ˈsuːt.keɪs/. This glide can soften the onset but should remain clearly separated from /keɪs/. Monitor your mouth position: lips rounded for /uː/ and high back tongue for the /t/ release.
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- US: /ˈsuːtˌkeɪs/; keep the /uː/ long and ensure a crisp /t/ before /k/. The vowel in /keɪs/ should be a tense /eɪ/ diphthong; avoid reducing /eɪ/ to /ə/ in careful speech. - UK: /ˈsjuːt.keɪs/ or /ˈsjuːt.keɪs/; may include a lighter /j/ after /s/ leading to a slightly smoother onset; ensure the /t/ remains released. - AU: similar to UK with perhaps slightly broader vowel qualities; maintain non-rhoticity and clear syllable boundaries; practice with an Australian broadcast sample for timing.
The word suitcase traces to the 16th-century French word soucier, meaning a small container, but the modern sense emerged in English in the 18th century as fashion and clothing storage became portable. The compound likely formed from suit + case, where “suit” referred to a set of clothes and “case” signified a container. Early references described leather bound chests and small travel boxes used by merchants and travelers. As travel expanded in the 19th and 20th centuries, suitcases evolved from simple trunks to more specialized carriers, including cases with handles, hinged lids, and eventually wheels. The term gradually broadened to encompass any portable bag used for clothing and personal effects, regardless of material or form. The first known use in print as “suit-case” appeared in the 1700s, with increasing standardization to the modern fused form by the late 19th century. The accent on the two syllables reflects the compound nature, with primary stress on the second syllable in many varieties when used in compounds or sentence context.
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Words that rhyme with "suitcase"
-ser sounds
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