/səˈpoʊzɪz/
supposes is pronounced /səˈpoʊzɪz/. Supposes is a verb meaning to assume something as true or probable. In everyday use it often functions as a present-tense verb with he/she/it forms taking -es. It can also appear in hypothetical or conditional contexts, especially in reported speech or formal writing, where it conveys tentative belief or supposition about a situation.
Say it backSupposes is a verb meaning to assume something as true or probable. In everyday use it often functions as a present-tense verb with he/she/it forms taking -es. It can also appear in hypothetical or conditional contexts, especially in reported speech or formal writing, where it conveys tentative belief or supposition about a situation.
"I suppose you’re right about the schedule."
"She supposes that the meeting will start on time."
"If you suppose the plan won’t work, we should try another approach."
Pronounce as sə-POZ-ɪz, with primary stress on the second syllable. The first syllable is a schwa (ə), the second syllable contains the /poʊ/ or /poː/ vowel depending on accent, followed by /zɪz/. Sound it as /sə-POH-zɪz/ in US and /sə-POH-zɪz/ in some UK variants, ensuring the final -s is voiced. IPA guides: US /səˈpoʊzɪz/, UK /səˈpəʊzɪz/.”,
Common mistakes: a) stressing the first syllable as 'SUP-poses' instead of second-syllable stress; b) mispronouncing the second syllable as /poʊ/ or /poː/ with a long o misplacement; c) devoicing the final /z/ making it /s/. Corrections: place primary stress on the second syllable /poʊ/ or /pəʊ/, maintain voiced /z/ for the final consonant, and keep the initial schwa neutral. Practice with minimal pairs like 'suppose' vs 'supposes' to feel the extra syllable and voicing.
In US English, /səˈpoʊzɪz/ with a clear /oʊ/ in the second syllable and a voiced final /z/. UK English often shows /səˈpəʊzɪz/ with a shorter /ə/ in the first syllable and a pronounced /əʊ/ in the second. Australian English tends toward /səˈpəʊzɪz/ like UK but with slightly more centralized first-vowel quality and final vowel length influenced by connected speech. Across accents, rhoticity is generally preserved; the r-coloring is not a factor in this word.
The difficulty comes from the unstressed initial schwa /ə/ combined with a mid-to-high front vowel in the second syllable and the voiced final /z/ followed by a weak terminal /ɪz/. Also, differentiating /poʊ/ vs /pəʊ/ in American vs British variants and maintaining the tense, clipped ending in rapid speech adds complexity. Practicing minimal pairs and slow tempo helps stabilize the transition between syllables and the final voiced consonant.
No silent letters in supposes, but the -poses ending can tempt people to say /ˈsəpəʊzɛs/ with extra syllables or misplace the stress. The essential pattern is three phonemes across the two syllables: /sə/ + /ˈpoʊ/ or /ˈpəʊ/ + /zɪz/. Emphasize the middle syllable’s vowel quality and the final voiced z sound to avoid common mispronunciations.
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Supposes comes from Middle English supposen, from Latin supponere, meaning to place under (to suppose, literally to place under consideration). The Latin comprises sub- (under) + ponere (to place). In English, the verb evolved to mean placing a hypothesis under consideration, i.e., to assume or conjecture. By Late Middle English, the form supposen expanded to supposes in third-person singular present and to supposing in participial forms. The phonetic shift included the loss or reduction of some middle vowels and standardization of the -ses ending as a plural-subject or third-person singular verb form. First known use is documented in literature from the 14th–15th centuries, evolving through the academic and rhetorical registers as “to suppose” became common in logic, philosophy, and everyday language. Over centuries, the pronunciation stabilized toward /səˈpoʊzɪz/ in General American and /səˈpəʊzɪz/ in British English, while retaining consistent spelling with -poses as a present-tense indicator. The word’s meaning broadened in modern English to cover any act of assuming or presuming, including informal speculation and hypothetical reasoning. Modern usage often pairs with adjectives like “reasonable” or with modal constructions to express tentativeness, e.g., “supposes that…,” and maintains a common collocation with verbs like “assume,” “claim,” or “presume.”
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "supposes" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "supposes" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "supposes"
-ses sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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