Sundries is a plural noun referring to small, miscellaneous items or remnants that accompany a main article or activity. Often used in shopping, inventory, or household contexts to denote assorted odds and ends. The term emphasizes variety rather than a single item and is commonly paired with phrases like ‘and sundries’ or ‘miscellaneous sundries.’
"She stocked the shop with tools, ropes, and sundries for hikers."
"The garage sale featured gardening supplies, batteries, and sundries."
"Keep your desk organized by putting away papers, pens, and sundries."
"The catalogue includes books, clothing, and sundries for travelers."
Sundries originates from the phrase sundry meaning ‘various’ or ‘miscellaneous’ and has roots in Middle English, from Old French sonder—meaning to separate or assign—though the exact path is debated. The sense evolved from the adjective sundry used to describe several items of varied kind, expanding into the noun phrase sundries to denote a collection of miscellaneous items. The first uses date back to early modern English texts, where merchants referred to sundries in inventories and catalogues as items that were not part of the primary goods but were still offered for sale or included with a primary purchase. Over time, sundries became a standard term in both retail and domestic language to describe small, assorted odds and ends that don’t fit into a single category. The word’s popularity grew with the expansion of trade and catalog-based shopping, where inventories needed a compact label for an eclectic group of small items. Modern usage keeps the sense of variety and miscellany intact, often implying practical usefulness rather than luxury.
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Words that rhyme with "Sundries"
-ies sounds
-ox) sounds
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Sundries is pronounced /ˈsʌn.driz/ in US and UK English, with the primary stress on the first syllable. The first syllable rhymes with 'sun'; the second syllable sounds like 'dris' with a soft /z/ at the end. In careful speech you’ll hear a light /d/ onset before the /r/ and a short, clean /i/ in ‘dries’ equivalent. Audio reference: you can listen on pronunciation platforms to hear the two-syllable trochaic pattern.
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying sun-DRIES) and mispronouncing the final -ies as /aɪz/ instead of /drɪz/. Another frequent error is a reduced middle vowel, producing /ˈsən.driz/ rather than /ˈsʌn.driz/. The correction is to maintain strong first-syllable stress, keep the /dr/ cluster intact, and pronounce the final -ies as /-driːz/ or /-driz/ depending on dialect."
In US and UK, the word is two syllables with primary stress on the first: /ˈsʌn.driz/. US speakers may have a clearer /ɪ/ or /i/ in the second syllable, while UK speakers may slightly reduce the second vowel but preserve /driz/. Australian pronunciation sits close to UK/US but might be a touch broader with a softer /r/ and a slightly longer vowel in the first syllable. Overall still trochaic with /n/ followed by /dr/.
The difficulty lies in the /ndr/ cluster and the final /z/. The sequence /n/ and /dr/ must flow without an intrusive vowel, and the ending /iz/ can be misarticulated as /aɪz/ or /ɪz/. People often de-emphasize the first syllable, affecting the overall rhythm. Focus on a crisp /n/ then a clean /dr/ release and finish with a voiced /z/. IPA cues: /ˈsʌn.driz/; ensure the /d/ is not swallowed and the /r/ is distinct.
The word’s uniqueness lies in its two-syllable trochaic stress pattern and the /dr/ onset in the second syllable. Some speakers reduce the /d/ lightly before /r/, producing /ˈsʌn.rɪz/ in casual speech. For precise pronunciation, keep the /ndr/ sequence tight and avoid a vowel intrusion between /n/ and /d/. Practice with minimal pairs focusing on /n/ vs /nd/ before /r/.
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