TIS-yooz
/ˈtɪˌsjuz/
tissues is pronounced TIS-yooz (/ˈtɪˌsjuz/). Tissues refers to groups of cells that perform a specific function in living organisms, or to thin, pliable paper used for cleaning or wrapping. In biology, it denotes a coordinated collection of similarly specialized cells; in everyday use it often means disposable paper products. The word combines a plural noun form with an -es ending.
Tissues refers to groups of cells that perform a specific function in living organisms, or to thin, pliable paper used for cleaning or wrapping. In biology, it denotes a coordinated collection of similarly specialized cells; in everyday use it often means disposable paper products. The word combines a plural noun form with an -es ending.
- Common phonetic challenges: 1) Inconsistent syllable stress leading to »tI-SUez« instead of the expected «TI-suːz»; 2) Shortening the /uː/ to /u/ or misplacing the glide that makes it sound like «tiss-yooz»; 3) Fusing /s/ and /z/ into a single unvoiced sibilant in quick speech. Corrections: 1) Maintain primary stress on the first syllable and keep the second syllable long /uː/; 2) Ensure the /ju/ or slight /j/ before /uː/ is smooth but not overpowering, yielding /ˈtɪsˌuːz/; 3) Voice the final /z/ clearly; don't drop it to /s/.
"The scientist studied the muscle tissues under a microscope."
"I used tissues to blow my nose."
"She folded the tissue neatly and placed it in the drawer."
Pronounce it as ˈtɪsˌuːz, with primary stress on the first syllable and a long -uː ending. Start with the short /ɪ/ in TI, then glide into /ˈsuːz/; ensure the final /z/ is voiced. For clarity, keep the /s/ and /t/ distinct at the onset rather than merging them. If you imagine saying 'TIS-yooz' you’ll mimic typical American and many British pronunciations. Listen to native speech and imitate the rhythm: two syllables, stress on the first syllable.
Two frequent errors: (1) pronouncing as two syllables with a short /u/ like 'tiss-yooz' instead of the longer /uː/. (2) De-emphasizing the first syllable or converting /ˈtɪs/ to /ˈtiːs/ or misplacing the stress. Correction: keep the first syllable with /ɪ/ and short /t/ onset, then glide into a long /uː/ for the second syllable, ensuring the final /z/ is voiced and audible. Practice with minimal pairs to fix the /ɪ/ vs /iː/ and the /s/ to /z/ liaison.
In US English, /ˈtɪsˌuːz/ with clear /t/ onset and final /z/. UK English often keeps /t/ crisp, and some speakers may realize /ˈtɪs(j)uːz/ with a slight y-glide before /uː/. Australian English usually follows US-like chord but can reduce the /j/ quality, giving a smoother transition to /uː/. Overall, rhoticity does not affect this word; the main differences are vowel quality /ɪ/ vs /ɪ/ and the /j/ or slight y-gesture before /uː/.
Because of the vowel sequence in the second syllable and the voiced final consonant. The /ɪ/ to /ɪ/ transition must be crisp, then the long /uː/ requires a rounded lip posture while not delaying the /z/. The /s/ to /z/ assimilation in fluent speech can cause sibilant confusion, with a risk of sounding like 'tiss-yooz' or 'tiss-yooz' without proper voicing. The subtle y-glide before /uː/ in some accents also complicates accuracy.
A unique aspect is coordinating the two-syllable rhythm with accurate vowel length and final voicing. The initial /t/ must be released with a crisp stop; the /ɪ/ is a short vowel, contrasted with the long /uː/ in the second syllable. You also need to keep the final /z/ distinct from a voiceless /s/ in fast speech. Pay attention to the transition from /s/ to /uː/ and then the /z/ at the end for natural, native-like rhythm.
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- US: /ˈtɪsˌuːz/ with a crisp /t/ onset and clear /z/; small lip rounding for /uː/. - UK: /ˈtɪs(j)uːz/ may involve a mild /j/ before /uː/ and slightly crisper /t/. - AU: similar to US but with less pronounced rhoticity; the /t/ release is clean, /uː/ kept long and rounded, final /z/ voiced. IPA anchors: /t/ + /ɪ/ + /s/ + /j/ optional + /uː/ + /z/. Mind the /j/ sometimes weaker or absent in fast speech.
Tissues comes from the singular tissue, which traces to the Old French teinture (cloth or fabric) and Latin textus, meaning a woven fabric or texture. The word tissue emerged in English in the late 14th century, originally referring to fabric or woven material. In medicine and biology, tissue was adopted to describe a collective of cells performing a shared function, aligning with the sense of “woven” or “constructed” parts of an organism. By the 19th and 20th centuries, tissue broadened to mean biological tissue and, in consumer terminology, disposable paper products produced from cellulose. The plural tissues developed as scientists described multiple tissue types in organisms, while consumer products retained the -es pluralization to indicate multiple sheets or pieces. First known use in biological context traces to early modern anatomy writings, with more formal codification in 18th- and 19th-century medical texts as the cell theory emerged and tissue-level organization became central to physiology and pathology.
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Words that rhyme with "tissues"
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