TAW-reez
/ˈtɔˌɹiz/
tories is pronounced TAW-reez (/ˈtɔˌɹiz/). Tories is the plural noun for members or supporters of the Conservative Party, primarily in the United Kingdom. It can also refer more generally to conservative political ideologies or factions. The term has historical roots in English political life and is commonly used in news and analysis to describe party figures, policies, or voters who align with conservative principles.
Tories is the plural noun for members or supporters of the Conservative Party, primarily in the United Kingdom. It can also refer more generally to conservative political ideologies or factions. The term has historical roots in English political life and is commonly used in news and analysis to describe party figures, policies, or voters who align with conservative principles.
"The Tories won a narrow majority in the latest election."
"Critics argued that the Tories' policies favored the wealthy."
"During the debate, the Tories defended their stance on Brexit."
Pronounce as /ˈtɔː.riz/ in US and UK; Australian English aligns closely with /ˈtɔː.riz/. The stress falls on the first syllable. Begin with an open back rounded vowel /ɔː/ like in "law" and glide into a voiced alveolar stop /d/ or /ɹ/ transition? Actually 't' is a clear /t/, then /ɔː/ followed by /r/ (rhotic you pronounce /ɹ/ in US/UK) then a final /ɪ/ or /ɪz/ depending on fast speech. For many speakers, the final /iz/ reduces to /əz/ in rapid speech. Example: The TO- r- ies, with a quick, light final /z/.
Common errors: (1) Underemphasizing the stressed first syllable, making it sound like /təˈriz/. (2) Slurring the /r/ or dropping it in non-rhotic accents; ensure you articulate /r/ before the final vowel. (3) Ending with a hard /s/ instead of a voiced /z/ in connected speech; keep the final /z/ voiced. Practice with careful isolation of /ˈtɔː/ and then the /riz/ portion. Using a voice onset time that’s too short on /t/ can merge into /ɔːr/; keep a crisp /t/ before /ɔː/.
US/UK/AU models share /ˈtɔː.riz/, but rhoticity affects the /r/ coloring; US and AU are rhotic with a pronounced postvocalic /r/—you’ll hear a distinct /ɹ/ before the vowel. Non-rhotic UK speakers may have a more muted /r/ coloring, especially before a vowel, but in careful speech the /r/ remains present. Australian English tends to have broader /ɔː/ and a clear /z/ at word end; UK often reduces /z/ to a clear /z/ but with weaker rhoticity in some regions. Watch vowel length and lip rounding for the /ɔː/ in all.
The challenge lies in the diphthongal /ɔː/ followed by a rapid /r/ in rhotic varieties, then a voiced /z/ that may be devoiced in some speech styles; the sequence /ɔːrɪz/ can blur in faster speech. Also, final z assimilation with following words can cause devoicing or a fricative-softening in some registers. Focus on producing a stable /ˈtɔː.riːz/ or /ˈtɔː.rɪz/ depending on locale, keeping the primary stress on the first syllable.
Yes. Because 'tories' refers to a political group, many speakers connect the first syllable with a strong, crisp /tɔː/ and then a rapid, nearly reduced second syllable; in careful speech, you’ll enunciate the /ri/ portion clearly, rather than turning it into a quick schwa-plus-z. Stress remains on the first syllable, and the final /z/ is fully voiced in careful speech but may be devoiced in rapid, casual discourse. Ensuring the /ɔː/ sustains a full vowel length helps distinguish from similar-sounding words.
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The term Tories originated in 17th-century England as a nickname for supporters of the exiled Catholic-leaning religious faction that backed the Stuart monarchy during the Exclusion Crisis (1670s). The word likely derives from the Irish word goirtín (rascal) or from the French torie (bandit), appropriated by opponents as a pejorative for rebels against parliamentary limits. Over time, “Tory” came to denote a political faction favoring strong royal authority and Anglican establishment. By the early 18th century, Tory capitalized into a formal political label within the British two-party system. The party known today as the Conservative Party traces its roots to the Tories of that era, consolidating under leaders who promoted hierarchy, tradition, and gradual reform. As politics modernized, “Tory” retained colloquial use, especially in media and public discourse, to refer to Conservative MPs, policies, and voters. The plural “Tories” is commonly used to describe the collective set of Conservative MPs and supporters in contemporary reference, rather than a single ideological stance. First known uses surface in parliamentary records and pamphlets from the 1700s, with evolving connotations shaped by political rivalry with the Whigs and later the Liberal and Labour movements.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "tories" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "tories"
-ies sounds
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