VAY-guhs
/ˈveɪɡəs/
vegas is pronounced VAY-guhs (/ˈveɪɡəs/). Vegas is a proper noun referring to a major resort city in Nevada, famous for its casinos, entertainment, and nightlife; it can also be used informally to denote the Las Vegas area or, less commonly, to reference “Las Vegas” in abbreviated form. In everyday speech, the word is typically pronounced with two syllables and emphasis on the first: VE-gas. The term carries distinctive regional pronunciation cues when shortened in casual speech.
Vegas is a proper noun referring to a major resort city in Nevada, famous for its casinos, entertainment, and nightlife; it can also be used informally to denote the Las Vegas area or, less commonly, to reference “Las Vegas” in abbreviated form. In everyday speech, the word is typically pronounced with two syllables and emphasis on the first: VE-gas. The term carries distinctive regional pronunciation cues when shortened in casual speech.
- You’ll often hear people over-articulate the final syllable, say VE-GAS with a full vowel; fix by shortening the final /əs/ to a quick schwa /ə/ and keep the first syllable strong. - Another mistake is misplacing stress, treating Vegas as a two-syllable word with even emphasis; ensure primary stress on VE- and a reduced second syllable. - Some learners pronounce it as /ˈvegəs/ with a hard /s/ at the end; the correct is /ˈveɡəs/, with a soft final /s/ after a schwa, avoid voicing issues between /ɡ/ and /s/. - You might pronounce the middle consonant as a voiced /z/ in some accents; stay with /ɡ/ to reflect the city name’s root.
"We flew to Vegas for the weekend and caught a show."
"People say, ‘Vegas, baby,’ as a playful nod to the city’s vibe."
"I booked tickets to the Vegas Strip fireworks display last year."
Common pronunciation is /ˈveɪɡəs/ in US/UK, with two syllables: VEH-gəs. The first syllable carries primary stress, the second reduces to a schwa or a light /əs/. Mouth position: start with a mid-front vowel /eɪ/ as in “bay,” then a hard /ɡ/ as in “go,” and finally an unstressed /əs/ or /əz/. For an authentic tone, keep the /ɡ/ crisp before the schwa. Audio examples: listen to native speakers saying “Vegas.”
Common errors include: (1) misplacing stress as VE-gas with equal emphasis, which sounds less natural; (2) pronouncing the second syllable as a full vowel like /ɛ/ or /æ/ instead of a reduced /ə/; (3) not clearly releasing the /ɡ/ and gliding into the schwa. Correct by stressing the first syllable, using /ɡ/ + a quick schwa, and avoiding a drawn-out final vowel. Practice with minimal pairs and speed drills to keep it natural.
In US and UK accents, /ˈveɡəs/ is common, with rhoticity affecting only the preceding context, not the Vegas word itself. The main difference is vowel length and quality; US tends to be a sharper /eɪ/ followed by /ɡəs/, UK may have a slightly shorter /eɪ/ and a more centralized /ə/. Australian English often reduces the final vowel even more, giving /ˈveɡəz/ or /ˈveɡəs/ with a very schwa-like final. The /ɡ/ remains clear in all.
The difficulty lies in the contrastive two-syllable rhythm and the need to reduce the final vowel while preserving a crisp /ɡ/ release. It’s easy to over-articulate the second syllable (ve-GAHSS) or to reduce the first syllable too much, making it sound like ‘veg-uhs.’ Practice with a strong first syllable stress, a precise /ɡ/ closure, and a quick, neutral schwa to achieve a natural Vegas sound.
A unique aspect is the strong linking with the /ɡ/ boundary before the final vowel: in natural speech you often hear a slight plosive release into the schwa, producing a smooth VE-gəs rather than VEH-gəs. Also, as a proper noun, the capitalization cues can influence cadence in sentences; you might say, ‘I’m headed to Vegas tonight,’ where the word is quickly slurred toward the schwa in casual talk.
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- US: clear /ɡ/ and schwa; maintain rhotic clarity on preceding words but Vegas itself stays /ˈveɡəs/. - UK: tende to slightly shorter /eɪ/ and softer final /ə/; keep non-rhotic assumption; practice connected speech: “to Vegas” sounded as /tə ˈveɡəs/. - AU: final vowel often more centralized; you may hear /ˈveɡəz/ with a lighter schwa; ensure the /ɡ/ is crisp but less forceful than US. - General: aim for two‑syllable rhythm with primary stress on the first; use IPA references as reminders in practice to keep vowel quality consistent.
Vegas derives from the city name Las Vegas, which itself originates from Spanish: Las Vegas means “the meadows.” The term Las Vegas was applied by early Spanish explorers or settlers who noted a lush, irrigated valley in the region, a contrast to the surrounding arid desert. The name appears in early 19th-century documents; the anglicized short form “Vegas” emerged as a colloquial contraction used in American English, gaining popularity through media and entertainment references, especially in the 20th and 21st centuries. Over time, Vegas has entered common parlance both as a shorthand for Las Vegas and, in casual usage, to evoke the city’s glitz, gambling, and nightlife ethos. The word’s meaning has effectively remained tied to the place, while its usage has broadened to denote experience or impulse characteristic of the city’s culture.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "vegas" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "vegas" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "vegas"
-gas sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
