/ˈsʌnˌɡlæsɪz/
sunglasses is pronounced /ˈsʌnˌɡlæsɪz/. Sunglasses are a pair of dark-tinted lenses mounted in a frame worn over the eyes to protect against bright light and UV rays. They come in many styles, from casual to formal, and are carried as a fashion accessory as well as a practical item. The term combines sun with glasses, emphasizing their function of reducing glare outdoors.
Say it backSunglasses are a pair of dark-tinted lenses mounted in a frame worn over the eyes to protect against bright light and UV rays. They come in many styles, from casual to formal, and are carried as a fashion accessory as well as a practical item. The term combines sun with glasses, emphasizing their function of reducing glare outdoors.
"I bought a stylish new pair of sunglasses for the beach."
"She wore sunglasses indoors to reduce glare from the stage lights."
"The sunglasses slipped down his nose as he looked up at the bright sky."
/ˈsʌŋˌɡlæz.ɪz/ in US; /ˈsʌŋ.ɡlæ.sɪz/ in UK and /ˈsʌŋˌɡlɑː.zɪz/ in Australia? Note: more common US pronunciation is /ˈsʌŋˌɡlæz.ɪz/ with the second syllable /ˈɡlæz/ and final /ɪz/. Practice the two-stress pattern: primary stress on the first syllable and secondary on the second following the /ˌ/ marker. Mouth position: start with an open front vowel /ʌ/ for SUN, lips neutral, then /ɡ/ stop with a small burst, then /læ/ in ‘glæ’ with a light back-tilt of the tongue, and end with /zɪz/ with a voiced alveolar fricative cluster.
Common errors include treating the second syllable as ‘glass-iz’ with /ɡlæs/ instead of /ɡlæsɪz/, and over-intensifying final /z/ turning it into /zɪz/ or misplacing stress as /ˈsəŋˌɡlæzɪz/. Correct by keeping the /ɡlæ/ sequence intact, ensure the /ˌ/ marks a light secondary stress, and articulate the final /ɪz/ as a brief, voiced schwa-like ending /ɪz/ rather than a hard /ɪz/.
In US English, primary stress on SUN with a clear /ʌ/ and hash of /ˈsʌŋˌɡlæz.ɪz/. UK tends to have a slightly shorter first syllable with tighter /æ/ or /ɒ/ depending on region, and a less pronounced /ˌ/ if spoken fast. Australian often has wider vowel transitions, with /ɑː/ or /æ/ for /æ/ and a more rounded /ɡlæs/. The final /ɪz/ may sound like /ɪz/ across regions but can be reduced toward /əz/ in casual speech. IPA references: US /ˈsʌŋˌɡlæz.ɪz/, UK /ˈsʌŋ.ɡlæ.sɪz/, AU /ˈsəŋˌɡlæsɪz/.
It combines a multisyllabic sequence with a stressed first syllable and a cluster in the middle (/ˈsʌŋˌɡlæz/) plus final /ɪz/. The tricky parts are achieving the light /ɔ/ onset transitions and keeping the two-stress rhythm smooth in connected speech, so the middle /ɡl/ cluster and the following /æ/ or /æ/ must be coarticulated. Practice slow, then speed up while maintaining steady breath and jaw position.
The word is a classic two-stress compound with a second syllable that begins a consonant cluster /ɡl/ in American and many dialects. The final /z/ or /ɪz/ can be tricky when closing consonants are elided in casual speech, sometimes sounding like /-zɪz/ or /-zɪz/. Ensure the final /ɪz/ is audible in careful speech, but natural in fast speech.
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Sunglasses etymology traces to the 18th–19th centuries when sunglasses-like devices began appearing as spectacles with tinted lenses. The word is a compound of sun and glasses, reflecting the function: reducing sunlight exposure when wearing eyewear. Early examples in English used phrases like ‘sun glasses’ before orthographic consolidation. The modern term emerged in the late 19th century as lens technology advanced (coded coatings and tinted glass) and sunglasses became commercially available in the United States and Europe. The noun form typically appeared in advertising and fashion contexts, reinforcing their dual role as a practical protective item and a style accessory. Over time, sunglasses expanded beyond utilitarian use into diverse designs—aviator, wayfarer, round, cat-eye—while remaining associated with outdoor activity and sun protection. First known uses often appear in travel and sports writing, as outdoor life increased in popularity and the need for glare reduction grew. Today, sunglasses are a ubiquitous consumer product, with brands and terminology reflecting both function and fashion trends across cultures.
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Words that rhyme with "sunglasses"
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