vests
/vɛsts/
vests is pronounced vests (/vɛsts/). Vests refers to sleeveless garments worn over the torso, typically as outerwear or under a layered outfit. The plural form indicates more than one vest. In broader contexts, it can also mean the act of equipping or arming, though usage as clothing is far more common in everyday speech.
Vests refers to sleeveless garments worn over the torso, typically as outerwear or under a layered outfit. The plural form indicates more than one vest. In broader contexts, it can also mean the act of equipping or arming, though usage as clothing is far more common in everyday speech.
- You may begin with /v/ and then immediately shorten the vowel, producing a rushed /vɛst/; pause slightly before the final /s/ to allow /t/ release. - Another common error is pronouncing /t/ as a silent or barely released stop, especially when speaking quickly; ensure a distinct /t/ release before /s/. - Some learners replace /ɛ/ with /eɪ/ or /æ/ in quick speech, which changes the vowel quality and can make the word sound wrong. Practice the exact mouth position for /ɛ/ and hold it briefly before the /t/ release. - In fast connected speech, some may insert a vowel between the /t/ and /s/; avoid that by keeping the tongue ready to release directly into /s/.
"She wore three vests in different colors for the photoshoot."
"The hikers packed lightweight vests to stay warm without bulk."
"He bought his children matching knit vests for the winter."
US/UK/AU pronunciation is /vɛsts/. Start with the consonant /v/ (labiodental fricative) by touching the bottom lip to the upper teeth and voicing. Then /ɛ/ as the short “eh” vowel in 'bed', followed by /s/ as a voiceless alveolar fricative, and end with /ts/ cluster where the tongue briefly touches the alveolar ridge to release a crisp /t/ plus /s/ without extra vowel. Stress is on the sole syllable. IPA: /vɛsts/.
Two frequent errors: 1) Slurring the final /ts/ into a simple /t/ or /s/, which softens the ending; ensure you release both consonants clearly, producing a crisp /ts/. 2) Substituting /ɛ/ with a more open or lax vowel like /æ/ (as in 'cat'), which makes it sound like /væsts/. Keep the /ɛ/ as in ‘bed’ for accuracy. Practice by isolating the /t/ and /s/ together with a small burst, and avoid voicing the final /s/.
In General American, /vɛsts/ with a pure /ɛ/ vowel and unreleased or lightly released /t/. In some UK varieties, the /t/ can be more strongly aspirated or realized as a glottal stop before an unstressed syllable in faster speech, though in careful speech you’ll still hear /t/. Australian English typically maintains /vɛsts/ but with a slightly closer to /e/ near [eː] in some speakers and a non-rhotic tendency that doesn’t affect this word since the /r/ is not involved. Core rhotics don’t apply; the difference is primarily the vowel quality and possible tongue position at /t/.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /ts/ at the end and ensuring the /t/ is released crisply before the /s/. Some speakers shorten or simplify the cluster to /t/ or /s/, which sounds off. Also, maintaining the accurate /ɛ/ vowel in a quick utterance can challenge non-native speakers, especially when the word is connected in speech. Focus on a deliberate, small delay before releasing /s/ to produce a clean /ts/.
A unique aspect is ensuring the /ts/ is produced as a single affricate-like release rather than two separate sounds in rapid speech. Think of it as a brief /t/ with immediate /s/ following, with a quick, unvoiced release. This helps avoid tying the sounds to a simple /t/ or /s/ and keeps the word crisp in rapid dialogue.
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- US: /vɛsts/ with clear /ɛ/ and a crisp /t/ release; keep the /t/ unvoiced but audible before /s/. - UK: /vɛsts/ with possibly less vowel length; if a glottal stop is used before /t/ in fast speech, be aware it may soften the ending; keep it controlled in careful speech. - AU: /vɛsts/ with slightly tighter vowel quality and a non-rhotic feel; ensure your /t/ release remains crisp even without rhotic influence. - Across all, avoid rounding the lips for /v/ too much; keep the lip position relaxed but firm for an accurate /v/.
The word vest derives from Latin vestis, meaning clothing or garment, itself from vestire, to clothe. In English, vest appeared in Middle English as a garment name by the 14th century, often used to refer to outerwear that covers the torso. Over time, the term broadened to include sleeveless garments, particularly waistcoats or waistcoats-style vests, which became common in Western fashion. The plural form vests emerges through standard English pluralization. Historically, vests have functioned both as practical warmth layers and as fashion statements, with variations across regions—where “vest” can also mean a waistcoat in British usage, while “vest” in American English tends to refer specifically to the sleeveless top. The semantic drift reflects both garment evolution and regional labeling, culminating in a stable plural that covers multiple items of this garment type. First known use in print aligns with 14th–15th centuries in English manuscripts mentioning vestments and vests as wearable coverings, evolving to the modern “vest” (US) and “waistcoat” (UK) with “vests” as the plural for sleeveless tops.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "vests" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "vests"
-sts sounds
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