/ˈɝdʒəz/
urges is pronounced /ˈɝdʒəz/. Urges is a verb meaning to strongly encourage or persuade someone to do something, or a noun referring to strong desires or impulses. The verb form typically appears with an -es ending in third person singular, or as a plural noun in everyday usage. Commonly, it implies a forceful, internal push rather than a casual suggestion.
Say it backUrges is a verb meaning to strongly encourage or persuade someone to do something, or a noun referring to strong desires or impulses. The verb form typically appears with an -es ending in third person singular, or as a plural noun in everyday usage. Commonly, it implies a forceful, internal push rather than a casual suggestion.
"She urges her team to finish the project before the deadline."
"His speech urges citizens to vote in the upcoming election."
"The advertisement urges viewers to consider a healthier lifestyle."
Pronounce as /ˈɜːr.dʒɪz/ in US and UK; in Australian English, it’s similar: /ˈɜː.dʒɪz/. First syllable carries the primary stress: /ˈɜːr/. The consonant cluster is /dʒ/ (the “j” sound as in judge) following the /ɜːr/ vowel, then a final /z/ sound. Keep the /ɜːr/ lax but distinct, and avoid turning /ɜːr/ into a shorter /ɜr/ in rapid speech. Mouth: tongue mid-high, slightly retracted, lips relaxed, with the /dʒ/ tongue contacting the alveolar ridge and palate. For quick practice, say “urp” + “jes” quickly, then blend into “urges.” IPA reference: US/UK /ˈɜːr.dʒɪz/, AU /ˈɜː.dʒɪz/.
Common mistakes: misplacing the stress (putting emphasis on the second syllable as in new-Jeans), mispronouncing /ɜː/ as a short /ɜ/ like “herz,” and dropping the final /z/ or turning it into /s/. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈɜːr.dʒɪz/. Ensure the /dʒ/ is clear, not merged with /r/ or /d/. Finish with a voiced /z/ rather than voiceless /s/. Practice with minimal pairs: urge vs. urges; judge vs. jujes (not real, but illustrate the /dʒ/ clarity).
In US/UK, the /ɜːr/ vowel often surfaces as /ɜr/ or /ɜːr/ with rhoticity affecting linking in connected speech; Americans may have a more rhotic /ɜːr/ realization with a slightly more pronounced r-coloring. Australians typically have a centralized or flatter mid vowel in stressed SYLLables, so /ˈɜː.dʒɪz/ remains understandable but may shift toward a centralized /ˈwɜːdʒɪz/ under some dialect conditions. The /dʒ/ and final /z/ remain constant across accents. Rhythm and intonation differ; US tends toward stronger final syllable stress patterns; UK may show slight vowel length differences. IPA remains /ˈɜːr.dʒɪz/ in most dialect transcriptions.
The difficulty lies in the combination of the tense, mid-back vowel /ɜː/ with the immediate following voiced affricate /dʒ/ and final /z/. The transition from a rounded gliding vowel to the alveolar affricate requires precise tongue positioning to avoid blending into a /r/ or /dj/ sequence. The /s/ or /z/ ending also depends on voicing in connected speech, which can alter the final sound. Focusing on clean /ˈɜː/ onset, clear /dʒ/ stop-release, and a voiced /z/ finish helps reduce mispronunciations.
A unique detail is the weak vowel reduction in fast speech; in rapid conversation, the /ɜː/ can approach a ɜ or schwa-like sound in some speakers, yet the /dʒ/ remains a distinct quality. Maintaining a clear, delayed /dʒ/ onset helps avoid blending into /r/ or /ju/ sequences, especially when the word is followed by a vowel-starting word in natural speech, where linking may influence the preceding vowel’s quality. Stay precise on the onset and final /z/.
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Urges traces to the Middle English word urgen, from the Old French urge (to press, drive forward), derived from Latin urgēre meaning to urge, press, or drive. The root urg- conveys pushing, driving, or driving forward a goal or desire. Early uses describe urging someone to action or pressing a point in debate. The noun sense of an inner impulse emerges in the 16th–17th centuries as discussions of will and motivation broadened. Over time, the word broadened to cover both the act of prompting others to act and the presence of a strong internal motive. In modern usage, urge commonly pairs with imperative or advisory verbs (urge someone to), or stands alone as a noun describing an impulse (a craving or inclination). The form -es in urging or urges aligns with standard third-person singular verb conjugation and plural noun usage, reinforcing its basic functional versatility in English. First known uses appear in authoritative texts from the 1500s where “urging” a person to take action was a rhetorical device, with “urge” as a bold, forceful input into decision-making. Current usage remains consistent in denoting both external persuasion and internal drive.
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Words that rhyme with "urges"
-ues sounds
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