3 syllables: sure, ti, es. Stress on sure.
SHOORR-teez
/ˈʃʊərtiz/
sureties is pronounced SHOORR-teez (/ˈʃʊərtiz/). It has three syllables (sure-ti-es), with the stress on "sure". Sureties are people or entities that guarantee the performance of another party, typically in a legal or financial context. The term also refers to the obligations themselves, such as a bond or pledge ensuring a debtor’s fulfillment. In everyday use, it often appears in plural as a class of guarantors or bonds. It conveys formal responsibility rather than casual assurance.
Sureties are people or entities that guarantee the performance of another party, typically in a legal or financial context. The term also refers to the obligations themselves, such as a bond or pledge ensuring a debtor’s fulfillment. In everyday use, it often appears in plural as a class of guarantors or bonds. It conveys formal responsibility rather than casual assurance.
"The sureties signed a bond guaranteeing the contractor would complete the project."
"The court required two sureties to back the defendant’s appearance."
"Industry auditors reviewed the sureties backing the loan."
Pronounce as /ˈʃɔːr.ə.tiz/ in UK and /ˈʃʊəˌtiz/ or /ˈʃʊr.ə.tiz/ in US depending on rhoticity. Stress falls on the first syllable: SHORE-uh-tees. Start with an “sh” sound, then “or” or “ur” as in 'shore' or 'sure,' followed by a soft “-uh-” and ending with “-ties” (teez). Keep the final /z/ voice from the plural -s. For many speakers, the first syllable carries primary stress, with a light, quick second syllable before the final -ties.
Two frequent errors: (1) pronouncing the first syllable as a short /ʃɜːr/ like ‘sure’ with a strong rhotic /ɹ/ in non-rhotic accents; (2) misplacing the schwa in the middle — you want a light, reduced /ə/ before the final -ties, not a full vowel. Correct by ensuring /ˈʃɔːr.ə.tiz/ (UK) or /ˈʃʊr.ə.tiz/ (US) with a clear but unstressed middle /ə/ and a final /tiz/ or /tiz/ cluster rather than an extra syllable.
In US English, you typically have rhotic /ˈʃʊɚ.ɪ.tiz/ or /ˈʃʊr.ə.tiz/ with /ɹ/ and a reduced middle /ə/. In UK English, /ˈʃɔː.tiːz/ or /ˈʃɔː.tɪz/ without rhotic rhoticity, with a longer first vowel /ɔː/ and a shorter final /tiːz/ depending on speaker. In Australian English, you often hear /ˈʃɔː.tiz/ or /ˈʃɔː.tɪz/, with a broad /ɔː/ and a non-rhotic end. Across all, the main variation is vowel quality in the first syllable and the presence or absence of rhotic R in US vs UK/AU.
The difficulty lies in the contrast between the reduced middle vowel and the clear, stressed first syllable, plus maintaining the /t/ before the final /iz/ into /tiz/ without creating an extra syllable. The plural -ies ending can appear as -ies or -ites in rapid speech, but correct is -ties, with a crisp /tiz/. Additionally, subtle vowel length differences in /ɔː/ vs /ʊ/ in different accents can trip speakers up when switching between US and UK/AU. Focus on stable /ə/ and consonant timing.
A unique feature is the mid syllable schwa /ə/ that keeps the word from becoming too heavy in rapid speech. The word is two closed segments around a weak vowel: SHORE-uh-ties. Ensure the final -ties remains a distinct /tiz/ rather than merging with the preceding syllable. The first syllable’s vowel quality can shift slightly by accent (US /ʊr/ vs UK /ɔː/), but the placement of primary stress on the first syllable remains constant.
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Surety originates from Old French seurte or segurte, via Latin securitas meaning “security, safety.” The word entered Middle English with the sense of a person who ensures performance, especially in obligations and bonds. It roots in the Latin securus (secure) and semper via a Semitic-adjacent path in medieval legal Latin usage. Early uses described a guarantor guaranteeing a debtor’s obligations; over time, “surety” and its plural form “sureties” evolved to denote the individuals or entities providing such guarantees, not merely the act. The first known English appearances date to the 14th–15th centuries, tying law, commerce, and community enforcement together and laying groundwork for modern bonding and insurance contexts. The pluralization to “sureties” becomes standard in legal drafting by the 17th century, aligning with plural guarantors in complex bonds and obligations.
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Words that rhyme with "sureties"
-ies sounds
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