VAY-kuhn-seez
/ˈveɪkənsiz/
vacancies is pronounced VAY-kuhn-seez (/ˈveɪkənsiz/). Vacancies refers to unfilled positions or gaps in a job, room, or period in a schedule. In plural form, it often denotes multiple open roles or opportunities. The term is commonly used in employment, housing, or scheduling contexts, and can also indicate empty spaces in general discussions about availability.
Vacancies refers to unfilled positions or gaps in a job, room, or period in a schedule. In plural form, it often denotes multiple open roles or opportunities. The term is commonly used in employment, housing, or scheduling contexts, and can also indicate empty spaces in general discussions about availability.
- You might over-emphasize the middle syllable making it /ˈveɪ.kən.siz/ sound clunky; keep the middle short with a schwa /ə/ or /ɪ/ depending on rhythm. - Another pitfall is blending the final /z/ into a voiceless /s/ in fast speech; practice voicing with minimal pairs like /siz/ vs /sɪs/ to feel the difference. - Some learners mispronounce the first syllable as /vek/ instead of /veɪ/; ensure the long /eɪ/ diphthong is held at the start.
"There are several vacancies at the company’s headquarters after the recent layoffs."
"The hotel has three vacancies for next weekend, so you should book soon."
"He left, creating vacancies that others quickly filled."
Pronounce as /ˈveɪ.kən.siz/. Start with the stressed first syllable 'va' /ˈveɪ/ (mouth opens wide, jaw drops slightly, tongue high-mid near the palate). The middle syllable /kən/ uses a short, neutral schwa-like /ə/ in many speakers, followed by a clear /n/ with the tongue at the alveolar ridge. End with /siz/ where the sibilant /s/ leads into a voiced /ɪ/ or /i/ depending on speaker, followed by /z/ (voiced). Keep the /ˈveɪ/ strong, and clip the last syllable just enough to sound natural.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (say /ˈveɪ.kən.səz/ with stress shift), pronouncing the middle consonant as /kən/ with a full schwa too long, and making the final /siz/ too short or devoiced as /sɪz/ without the final z. The fix is to maintain primary stress on the first syllable, reduce the middle vowel to a quick /ə/ and clearly voice the final /z/. Practice by saying VAH-kən-seez with a quick, light final buz sound.
In US, UK, and AU accents, the primary stress remains on the first syllable /ˈveɪ.kən.siz/. The differences are minor: US tends to be rhotic and may make the final /ɪz/ or /iz/ sound slightly longer; UK and AU keep a similar pattern but with subtler vowel qualities. The /ə/ in /kən/ may be more centralized in US English, while UK/AU might show a slightly more rounded /ə/ or even a near /ɪ/ in fast speech. Overall, the rhythm and stress stay constant.
It's hard because of the three-syllable structure with a non-stressed middle syllable and the final voiced /z/ after an /s/ cluster in rapid speech. The sequence /kən.siz/ can blur if you don’t distinctly voice the /k/ and the /s/ leading into /z/. Also, the first syllable has a clear separate /eɪ/ diphthong that must stay prominent even when speaking quickly. Focus on maintaining the heavy stress on /ˈveɪ/ and crisp, separate middle and end sounds.
The word stands out for its triplet syllable pattern with a noticeable front-loaded stress and a mid weak syllable that easily reduces in casual speech. The contrast between the long, tense /eɪ/ in the first syllable and the relaxed /ə/ in the middle is a key feature. Also, final z requires voicing after an /s/ context, which some learners find tricky; ensure your /z/ is voiced, not devoiced, to avoid sounding like /s/.
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- US: Keep rhoticity clear; the /r/ is not present here, but you should maintain a clear /ə/ in the middle and a crisp /z/ at the end. The /ɪ/ in the ending can be realized as a near /i/ in fast speech. - UK: A slightly more rounded vowel in /eɪ/ and more centralized /ə/; ensure the /z/ is clearly voiced. - AU: Similar to US/UK, but with faster rhythm; the middle /ə/ can be reduced, keeping the rhythm strong.
Vacancies comes from the Latin vacantia, from vacare meaning 'to be empty, lie idle' and the noun suffix -ncia from French -ance/ -ence. The path into English runs through Old French vacant, from Latin vacans (present participle of vacare). Historically, the sense shift from the state of being empty to the idea of unfilled jobs or slots appears in the late Middle Ages and early modern period as commerce and administration abstracted offices and roles to be filled. By the 17th-18th centuries, vacancy was used widely to describe unoccupied spaces and positions in institutions, later expanding to job openings and housing. The plural form vacancies emerged in the 19th century as employment discourse intensified and English adopted more analytic forms for multiple openings. The word often collocates with “job,” “position,” “room,” “space,” and “vacant.”
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "vacancies" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "vacancies" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "vacancies"
-ies sounds
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