sur-PREYE-ziz
/sɚˈpɹaɪzɪz/
surprises is pronounced sur-PREYE-ziz (/sɚˈpɹaɪzɪz/). Surprises refers to things that cause astonishment or unexpected events, often appearing suddenly and eliciting strong reactions. In plural form, it commonly describes multiple instances or examples of such astonishments, or the act of catching someone off guard. The word can function as a noun or verb form in phrases like “city surprises” or “surprises us.”.
Surprises refers to things that cause astonishment or unexpected events, often appearing suddenly and eliciting strong reactions. In plural form, it commonly describes multiple instances or examples of such astonishments, or the act of catching someone off guard. The word can function as a noun or verb form in phrases like “city surprises” or “surprises us.”
"The party was full of surprises from start to finish."
"Her unexpected gift from a friend was one of the nicest surprises."
"The plot twists in the novel keep throwing new surprises at you."
Pronounce as /sərˈpraɪ.zɪz/ in US and UK, with primary stress on the second syllable. Break it into sur-PRI-zes, where the vowel in first syllable is a reduced schwa, the second syllable carries the /aɪ/ diphthong, and the final syllable has a crisp /zɪz/ with a light voicing. Mouth position: start with relaxed lips for /s/, lift the middle of the tongue for /r/ before /p/ pause, then glide into /aɪ/ with an open jaw, and finish with a short /z/ followed by a voiceless /ɪz/ cluster.
Common errors include omitting the second syllable stress, producing /ˈsɜːrprɪz/ with an American rhotic misplacement, or flattening the /aɪ/ into a short /ɪ/. Another frequent slip is devoicing the final z or linking the /z/ with surrounding consonants in rapid speech. Correct by emphasizing the /praɪ/ nucleus, ensuring the /aɪ/ is a clear diphthong, and pronouncing the final /zɪz/ as a voiced-voiceless cluster rather than a single hiss.
US pronunciation /sərˈpraɪ.zɪz/ features a rhotic core with a clear /r/ and pronounced /zɪz/ ending. UK tends to stronger non-rhoticity in some speakers, but in standard RP you’ll still hear /r/ only before vowels; /səˈpraɪ.zɪz/ with a lighter /r/ and more syllable-timed rhythm. Australian English aligns with non-rhotic tendencies, with /səˈpraɪzɪz/ and slightly broader vowels; the final z often remains voiced. Across all, the main stress remains on the second syllable, but vowel quality shifts subtly.
The difficulty lies in sequencing a stressed diphthong /aɪ/ after an unstressed /ər/ leading into a final /zɪz/. Coarticulation makes the /r/ influence the preceding vowel, and the final cluster /zɪz/ requires precise voicing and tongue positioning to avoid a muddled or muffled ending. Practice modulating voicing between /z/ and /s/ in rapid speech. Smoothly link the /r/ to the /ˈpraɪ/ and keep the mouth ready for the final /zɪz/.
The plural suffix -es often carries an extra syllable in spelling but not always in speech. In many dialects, the -es in surprises contributes to the /ɪz/ or /əz/ ending depending on the prior consonant; here it yields /zɪz/ — a voiced z and a high front vowel in the final syllable. This creates a subtle two-segment ending that you must segment clearly when practicing.
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US: rhotic /r/ is pronounced and often causes a more pronounced /r/ before the next syllable; UK: non-rhotic tendencies may reduce the /r/ unless before a vowel; AU: similar to US but with subtler rhoticity and a more centralized vowel in /ə/. Vowel quality: /ə/ in first syllable; /aɪ/ as a clear diphthong; final /ɪz/ maintains voicing. IPA references help map the nuances.
Surprise originates from the Old French surprise, from sciur, surprendre, meaning to seize or take by surprise. The English sense of catching someone off guard developed in the late Middle Ages, influenced by the idea of a sudden seizure or unexpected event. The noun form emerged in the 16th century, initially with the connotation of an unexpected occurrence that jolts or amazes, rather than a planned applause or external display. Over time, the word broadened to include both the state of astonishment and the act of causing astonishment. The verb sense to surprise comes from the same root and shares the idea of taking someone unaware. In modern usage, “surprises” often collocates with adjectives like pleasant, pleasant, delightful, or shocking, and frequently appears in contexts involving events, gifts, or plot twists. First known use in English records appears in the 15th-16th centuries as a noun tied to sudden events, evolving through print into contemporary usage with multiple syntactic roles, including subject, object, and complement in sentences like “The party surprised us” and “The surprises of the day.”
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "surprises" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "surprises" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "surprises"
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