5 syllables: vo, lat, il, i, ties. Stress on il.
vol-uh-TIL-it-eez
/ˌvɒləˈtɪlɪtiz/
volatilities is pronounced vol-uh-TIL-it-eez (/ˌvɒləˈtɪlɪtiz/). It has five syllables (vo-lat-il-i-ties), with the stress on "il". Volatilities refers to the state or quality of being volatile—characterized by rapid and unpredictable changes, especially in prices, markets, or conditions. It denotes instability, fluctuation, and ease of vaporization in a physical context. The term is commonly used in finance, economics, and science to describe variable, high-amplitude shifts over time.
Volatilities refers to the state or quality of being volatile—characterized by rapid and unpredictable changes, especially in prices, markets, or conditions. It denotes instability, fluctuation, and ease of vaporization in a physical context. The term is commonly used in finance, economics, and science to describe variable, high-amplitude shifts over time.
"The volatilities of the stock market make risk assessment difficult for investors."
"Researchers studied the volatilities of the gas to understand its reactivity under different temperatures."
"Policy makers must consider the volatilities in energy prices when planning subsidies."
Pronounce as /ˌvɒ.ləˈtɪl.ɪ.tiz/ in UK English or /ˌvɑː.ləˈtɪl.ə.tiz/ in US English with three primary stress peaks: the initial secondary stress on VOL-, the main stress on TI-, and a light final -ties. Mouth position starts with a rounded, mid-back vowel for /ɒ/ in British and /ɑ/ or /ɑː/ in American; the enunciated diachronic 'li' is a light, syllabic /l/ followed by a schwa or short /ɪ/. Reference audio: Pronounce or Forvo. IPA guide: US: /ˌvɑː.ləˈtɪl.ə.tiz/; UK: /ˌvɒ.ləˈtɪl.ɪ.tiz/; AU: /vəˈlæt.ɪl.ɪ.tiz/.”,
Common errors include over-weakening the first syllable leading to /ˈvɒlətɪlɪˌtiz/ and misplacing the main stress on the second syllable as if it were ‘volt-uh-TEA-luh-teez.’ Correct by preserving three syllabic beats: VOL-a-ti-LI-ties, with the main stress on TI (the third syllable when counting from the start). Ensure the final -ties is /tiz/ rather than /ti:z/ or /təs/. Use a quick, clear /t/ followed by /ɪ/ then /l/ and /ə/ before /tiz/.
US tends to a flatter /ɑ/ in the first syllable and a clearer /tɪl.ə/ sequence, with a rhotic r-less or slightly shortened /ɚ/ in some speakers. UK often uses /ˈvɒ.ləˈtɪl.ɪ.tiz/ with shorter /ɒ/ and tighter /tɪl.ɪ/; non-rhotic accents may reduce linking. Australian tends toward /vəˈlæt.ɪl.ɪ.tiz/ with clear vowels and stable /t/ assessment, similar to US but with a slightly broader diphthong on /ə/. In all, the final -ties remains /tiz/; the main variation revolves around /ɒ/ vs /ɑ/ and the placement of stress around TI and LI segments.
Because it combines a longer multisyllabic root with multiple unstressed syllables, creating a cluster of consonants around /l/ and /t/ and a trailing /ɪ.tiz/ sequence. The secondary stress on VOL- plus the main stress on TI can be easy to misplace, causing a ‘vol-uh-TIL-i-teez’ mispronunciation. Mastery requires precise timing of syllable rhythm and accurate articulation of the /t/ followed by /ɪ/ and /l/ before the final /tiz/. IPA references help anchor correct mouth positions.
A unique aspect is maintaining distinct syllabic boundaries across four or five syllables in rapid speech while keeping the middle syllables clear: vo-LA-ti-li-ties requires crisp /l/ and /t/ articulation with a reduced middle vowel. The challenge is not to merge /tɪl/ into a single light syllable; you should clearly separate /tɪl/ and /ɪ/ sounds before the final /tiz/. Practice with slow enunciations, then speed up while preserving syllable integrity.
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Volatilities derives from the adjective volatile, from Latin volatilus ‘flying, fleeting,’ from volare ‘to fly.’ The English form entered through Old French volatilité, ultimately adopted into scientific and financial jargon in the 19th and 20th centuries to denote propensity to vaporize or to change rapidly. The root vol- relates to flying or moving easily, and -ility/-ities mark the abstract noun form signifying state or condition. Early usage often paired volatility with chemistry to describe substances that vaporize easily. As finance and economics matured as disciplines, volatilities emerged as a plural noun highlighting multiple instances or periods of abrupt changes, especially in markets. The term expanded to describe not just price swings but broad regimes of instability — from commodity costs to interest rates and beyond. First known uses in English date from the 19th century, with citations in scientific texts describing physical volatility and, by the mid-20th century, finance literature adopting volatilities to quantify risk and uncertainty. Over time, the word has become a standard descriptor in risk assessment, econometric modeling, and article headlines about market dynamics. Its semantic trajectory mirrors the move from physical properties of liquids and gases to abstract, numerical measures of fluctuation and unpredictability.
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Words that rhyme with "volatilities"
-ies sounds
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