3 syllables: thick, ness, es. Stress on thick.
THIK-nuh-siz
/ˈθɪk.nəs.ɪz/
thicknesses is pronounced THIK-nuh-siz (/ˈθɪk.nəs.ɪz/). It has three syllables ( thick-ness-es), with the stress on " thick". Thicknesses refers to multiple layers or measurements of thickness, or to substances or objects characterized by their thick dimensions. The word is used in technical, scientific, or material contexts to describe varying depths or densities, and is the plural form of thickness. It's pronounced with a stressed first syllable and ends with an s sound, often blending the final -es in rapid speech.
Thicknesses refers to multiple layers or measurements of thickness, or to substances or objects characterized by their thick dimensions. The word is used in technical, scientific, or material contexts to describe varying depths or densities, and is the plural form of thickness. It's pronounced with a stressed first syllable and ends with an s sound, often blending the final -es in rapid speech.
- You might skip or soften the initial /θ/ and start with /f/ or /t/, which changes the word completely. Practice: place the tongue gently against the upper teeth and blow air to sound /θ/ distinctly. - The middle syllable can be reduced too much, making /nəs/ sound like /nəs/ with a collapsed vowel. Practice: keep a crisp /n/ and a clear schwa /ə/ or /ə/; don’t say /naɪs/ or /neɪs/. - The final -es can be pronounced as /s/ instead of /ɪz/. Practice: end with a voiced /z/ after a light /ɪ/ in the final syllable. - In rapid speech, you might run /th/ into the next word; practice with pauses to ensure each segment is clear.
"The thicknesses of the different pipe walls varied from 2 to 5 millimeters."
"Researchers tested thicknesses across several material samples."
"The engineer noted the surface thicknesses were inconsistent after treatment."
Pronounce it as /ˈthɪk.nəs.ɪz/. Start with THIK (voiceless th + short i) then nəs (clear schwa before s), ending with -ɪz as a voiced z-sound. Primary stress on the first syllable. In careful speech: THIK-nəs-iz; in rapid speech: THIK-nəs-əz. Quick check: ensure the /θ/ at the start is the voiceless dental fricative, not a /t/ or /f/.
Common errors include saying /tɪk.nəs/ omitting the initial /θ/ sound, or conflating the middle /nəs/ with a reduced schwa too aggressively. Another mistake is mispronouncing the final -es as /s/ instead of /ɪz/ or /əz/. Correction: practice the initial voiceless dental fricative /θ/ before the short /ɪ/; keep the middle syllable clearly /nəs/ with a reduced yet present vowel; finish with /ɪz/ so the final z is voiced.
In US, UK, and AU, the starting /θ/ remains, but rhoticity and vowel length can shift. US tends to have shorter /ɪ/ and quicker syllable transitions; UK often keeps a crisper /ɪ/ and slightly clearer /t/ release before /n/. Australian can show a more centralized vowel in /ɪ/ and a softer /t/ release; the final /ɪz/ may approach /ɪz/ across all, but with subtle timing differences. Overall, the primary difference is vowel quality of /ɪ/ and the speed of the middle syllable.
Because it starts with the voiceless dental fricative /θ/, which many learners substitute with /t/ or /f/. The sequence /ˈthɪk.nəs.ɪz/ also requires a clear but quick transition through three syllables without weakening the middle /nəs/ and ensuring the final /ɪz/ is voiced. The consonant cluster and pace can cause blending, so speakers often drop the second vowel or merge the last syllable.
A distinctive feature is maintaining the 'th' onset /θ/ rather than replacing it with /t/ or /f/ in rapid speech. The word also challenges learners to keep a precise light schwa in the second syllable before the final z-sound, so the plural -es does not become a separate syllable or lost sound. Focus on articulating /θ/ before the short /ɪ/ and retaining /nəs/ clearly.
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- US: American speakers: /ˈthɪk.nəs.ɪz/ with less vowel length; keep /ɪ/ short and crisp; /θ/ remains voiceless but dental. - UK: /ˈθɪk.nə.sɪz/ may feature a less reduced middle vowel and a slightly clearer /ə/ between /n/ and /s/; /ɪ/ may be tighter. - AU: /ˈθɪk.nəs.ɪz/ with a flatter intonation, slightly more centralized /ɪ/; may have a lighter /t/ release; keep the final /ɪz/ audible. References: IPA transcriptions and phonetic charts.
Thicknesses derives from thickness, which originates from Old English thicceord (unknown) or related roots, but the precise lineage is unclear. The core noun thickness emerges in Middle English as the state or condition of being thick or dense. The suffix -ness forms abstract nouns indicating a state, while -es serves as a plural marker for the noun in modern usage (thicknesses meaning multiple measures of thickness). The term has long been used in geometry, engineering, and material sciences to denote the measurement across a dimension perpendicular to a surface. First known usages appeared in technical texts referencing material density and wall depth in the late 16th to early 17th centuries, with increasing prevalence during the Industrial Revolution as manufacturing required precise thickness specifications. Over time, thicknesses has retained its core meaning but broadened to describe multiple, varying thickness measurements across samples or regions. In contemporary English, thicknesses is a standard plural noun used in formal and technical contexts, often appearing in specifications, standards, and reports. Its semantic progression mirrors the shift from a general property of being thick to a pluralized set of measurements across different items or sections of a single item. Often adjacent terms include paperwork such as “thickness tolerance” or “minimum thicknesses” in engineering and manufacturing; the pluralization emphasizes multiple data points or multiple layers. The word remains common in materials science, construction, and manufacturing documentation where precise thickness data matter. First recorded usage instances appear in archival engineering notes and treatises referencing material properties and tolerances.
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Words that rhyme with "thicknesses"
-ses sounds
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