/ˈsɪmpəθiz/
sympathies is pronounced /ˈsɪmpəθiz/. Sympathies is the plural form of sympathy, referring to feelings of pity, concern, or shared emotion, or to expressions of such feelings toward others. It can also denote supportive sentiments or affiliations with someone’s cause. In usage, it often appears in phrases like “my sympathies are with you.” (2-4 sentences).
Say it backSympathies is the plural form of sympathy, referring to feelings of pity, concern, or shared emotion, or to expressions of such feelings toward others. It can also denote supportive sentiments or affiliations with someone’s cause. In usage, it often appears in phrases like “my sympathies are with you.” (2-4 sentences)
"I offered my sympathies after hearing about their loss."
"Her sympathies extended to the victims and their families."
"During the crisis, many people sent their sympathies to the community."
Pronunciation: /ˈsɪm.pə.θiz/ (US and AU) or /ˈsɪm.pə.θiz/ (UK, often with a slightly reduced first vowel). Primary stress on the first syllable: SIM-puh-thyez. The /θ/ is the voiceless dental fricative as in thin. Final -ies is /-iz/; the preceding /θ/ does not nasalize. Mouth positions: start with a relaxed neutral vowel for the first syllable, then the /m/ lips closed, /p/ with a light burst, /ə/ schwa, /θ/ tongue-tip to upper teeth, + /iz/ lip rounding minimal.
Common errors: 1) Stress misplaced on the second syllable (sYMPa-thies vs SIM-pa-thies). 2) Replacing /θ/ with /f/ or /t/ (simbathies). 3) Final consonant devoicing or replacing /z/ with /s/. Corrections: maintain primary stress on the first syllable, keep the /θ/ as a voiceless dental fricative with tongue to teeth, and realize the final -ies is /iz/ rather than /iːz/ unless the speaker lengthens. Practicing with a mirror helps monitor mouth position for /θ/.
US: /ˈsɪm.pəˌθiz/ or /ˈsɪm.pəˌθiz/ with potentially lenited /p/ and broader /ɪ/ in some speakers. UK: /ˈsɪm.pəˌθiːz/ or /ˈsɪm.pə.θiz/ with a more distinct /ɪ/ and possible non-rhoticity affecting following vowels; AU similar to US but tends to flatter /ɪ/ and steady /θ/ timing. All share the /θ/ fricative, final /iz/. Differences are in vowel quality and syllable reduction; UK may show tighter final vowel, US sometimes uses a shorter second vowel, Australian can have a slightly clearer /i/ before /z/.
Difficulty arises from the sequence of a consonant cluster inside the word and the /θ/ sound: the transition from /m/ to /p/ to /ə/ to /θ/ requires precise tongue-tip placement. The following /iz/ adds a voiced–voiceless boundary with z. For non-native speakers, the dental fricative /θ/ is often substituted with /f/ or /t/ and the final /z/ can devoice. Practice by isolating /θ/ with minimal pairs like thick/this, then integrate into the word. Pay attention to the stress on the first syllable.
The unique aspect is the plural suffix -ies after a consonant cluster; it triggers a shift to an /iz/ ending instead of /iːz/ commonly associated with some other -ies words. The preceding syllable ends with /θ/, so you must not voice the /θ/ into /ð/ and must keep a voiceless dental fricative, then quickly glide into /iz/. This requires careful timing and steady airflow to avoid a pause or mispronunciation.
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Sympathy comes from the Late Latin sympathia, from Greek sympatheia (sympathies with, sharing feelings), from sympathēs (sharing feeling), from syn- (together) + pathos (feeling, suffering). The English form sympathie appeared in the 16th century via French, later anglicized to sympathy. The plural sympathies emerges in English through standard pluralization rules adding -ies to forms ending in -y after a consonant. Over time, sympathy broadened from a medical or bodily sense of fellow feeling to social and emotional support. The word retains core meaning of shared feeling but is commonly used in both personal condolences and more general compassion. First known use in English traces to the 16th century, paralleling its Latin and Greek roots, with early usage in religious and moral discourse before expanding into secular domains like social support and political solidarities.
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Words that rhyme with "sympathies"
-ies sounds
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