2 syllables: Trea, sures. Stress on Trea.
TREZH-urz
/ˈtɹɛʒɚz/
Treasures is pronounced TREZH-urz (/ˈtɹɛʒɚz/). It has two syllables (Trea-sures), with the stress on "Trea". Treasures is a plural noun referring to valuable objects or cherished items. It denotes things of considerable worth or sentimental value, often highlighted in stories or history. In everyday language, it can also describe highly prized memories or experiences. The term commonly appears in contexts involving wealth, mythology, or personal significance.
nounTreasures is a plural noun referring to valuable objects or cherished items. It denotes things of considerable worth or sentimental value, often highlighted in stories or history. In everyday language, it can also describe highly prized memories or experiences. The term commonly appears in contexts involving wealth, mythology, or personal significance.
- Confusing /ʒ/ with /ʃ/; this changes the word’s sound and rhythm. Fix by shaping the sound with the tongue blade near the palate, allowing voicing to pass through. - Weakening the middle /ʒ/ to /ʒə/ or slurring into /z/; practice a distinct /ʒ/ then the schwa to /ər/ or /əz/. - Final consonant mispronunciation: ending /z/ can sound like /s/ in rapid speech; maintain voicing for /z/ by gently voicing the end. Tip: use a slow, deliberate tempo first, then speed up while keeping the middle sound clear.
"She unearthed ancient treasures from the hidden cave."
"The family keeps trinkets and photos as treasured treasures."
"Tour guides spoke of the city’s cultural treasures and landmarks."
Pronounce as two syllables: TREH-zhurz for US English or TREY-zhuhz in some British variants. IPA: US /ˈtrɛʒərz/, UK /ˈtreɪʒəz/, AU /ˈtreɪʒəz/. The first syllable carries primary stress. Start with a mid-front vowel in US (/ɛ/ as in red) or a diphthong in UK/AU (/eɪ/ as in day). The middle is the voiced palato-alveolar fricative /ʒ/ like measure, followed by the schwa /ə/ or /ə/ before the final /r/ in rhotic accents. End with an /z/ or /z/ sound in some accents."
Common mistakes include mispronouncing the second syllable as a hard /s/ or /z/ without the /ʒ/ sound, and conflating the first syllable with a pure /t/ + /r/ cluster leading to /trɪ/ or /træ/. Correct approach: ensure the middle uses /ʒ/ (as in measure) and the second syllable reduces to /ərz/ or /əz/ with a clear final /z/. Practice the sequence TREH-zhurz or TREY-zhəz with careful voicing and a quick but even rhythm."
In US, /ˈtrɛʒərz/ with a shorter first vowel and rhotic final /r/. In UK, /ˈtreɪʒəz/ with a longer diphthong in the first syllable and less rhoticity, often dropping the rhotic /r/ in non-rhotic speech. Australian tends to align with UK pronunciation, /ˈtreɪʒəz/, but with Australian vowel quality: more centralized or rounded vowels and a clear /ɜː/ or /ə/ in the second syllable depending on speaker. Overall, US emphasizes /ɜr/ in the second syllable; UK/AU favor /əz/ endings with a non-rhotic or partially rhotic influence.
Two phonetic challenges stand out: the /ʒ/ in the middle, which is a voiced palato-alveolar fricative not found in many languages, and the /ər/ sequence in the second syllable, which can reduce to a schwa in fast speech. Additionally, the first syllable’s vowel value varies by dialect (/ɛ/ vs /eɪ/). Muscular coordination for the /ʒ/ sound and managing the length of the first vowel require deliberate practice, especially in rapid speech. Emphasize accurate place of articulation and voicing.
A unique consideration for treasures is the interplay of the /ʒ/ sound with /ɚ/ in the second syllable when spoken quickly; some speakers may almost merge /ʒər/ into a single syllabic unit. Pay attention to the transition between /ʒ/ and /ər/ (or /əz/): keep voicing continuous and avoid an abrupt stop. Also notice how in some dialects the final /z/ may be realized as /s/ in fast, clipped speech. IPA references help anchor your articulation: /ˈtrɛʒərz/ (US) vs /ˈtreɪʒəz/ (UK/AU).
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- US: keep /ˈtrɛʒərz/ with a stressed first syllable; allow /ɜr/ or /ər/ to flow into a voiced /z/. - UK: /ˈtreɪʒəz/ with a longer first vowel; ensure non-rhoticity in connected speech but end with a voiced /z/ when the following word begins with a vowel. - AU: /ˈtreɪʒəz/ similar to UK but with Australian vowel quality; slight vowel centralization and a more clipped final /z/ depending on speaker; maintain rhoticity lightly in connected speech. - General: always keep the /ʒ/ clear; tongue blade near the palate, breath pressure even; ensure the final /z/ is voiced rather than devoiced in connected speech.
Treasures originates from the Old French tresor, which itself comes from the Latin thesaurus, meaning treasury or storehouse of wealth. The English adaptation formed as treasure (singular) in Middle English, with the plural -s added to denote multiple items. The semantic shift from a physical store of wealth to cherished or valued things occurred over centuries, as metaphorical and sentimental value crowded the economic sense. Early uses in literature and heraldry reinforced treasure as both material wealth and symbolic value, emblematic of a prized possession or sacred relic. By the modern era, treasures broadly encompassed both tangible wealth and intangible value, including memories and experiences. First known uses appear in medieval texts describing hoards of gold and gems, later expanding to non-material contexts in poetry and prose to signify anything greatly valued by an individual or culture.
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Words that rhyme with "Treasures"
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