3 syllables: vor, ti, ces. Stress on vor.
VAWR-tis-eez
/ˈvɔrtɪˌsiz/
vortices is pronounced VAWR-tis-eez (/ˈvɔrtɪˌsiz/). It has three syllables (vor-ti-ces), with the stress on "vor". Vortices is the plural of vortex, referring to swirling, rotating regions of fluid or air. It denotes multiple organized spins or whorls, often forming in liquids, gases, or plasmas. The term is common in physics, fluid dynamics, meteorology, and engineering contexts where circulation patterns are analyzed or described.
Vortices is the plural of vortex, referring to swirling, rotating regions of fluid or air. It denotes multiple organized spins or whorls, often forming in liquids, gases, or plasmas. The term is common in physics, fluid dynamics, meteorology, and engineering contexts where circulation patterns are analyzed or described.
"A series of vortices formed behind the turbine blades as the water flowed past."
"Thunderstorm dynamics often involve complex vortices within the updrafts."
"The smoke traced several small vortices rising from the disturbed surface."
Pronounce as /ˈvɔːr.tɪ.siːz/ (US: ˈvɔɚ.tɪ.siːz). The primary stress is on the first syllable VOR-, with a short, crisp /t/ before the /ɪ/ and ending with /siːz/. Position your lips for /ɔː/ as in 'or', keep the tongue high-mid and relaxed for /t/, and finish with a clear z-sound to produce /-siz/. You’ll often hear a slight yod-like offglide in rapid speech, but in careful speech keep /t/ released and the final /z/ voicing audible.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing the stress or flattening the first vowel to a quick /ɑ/; ensure /ˈvɔːr/ with a clear long /ɔː/. 2) Slurring the /t/ into /s/ or dropping the /t/; keep a crisp /t/ before /ɪ/ so the /s/ is separate. 3) Ending with /ɪz/ instead of /siz/; articulate the final /z/ clearly for /siːz/. Practice with a slow rhythm: VOR-tih-seez, not vor-TI-sez.
US: rhotic /vɔɹ/ with clear rhoticity; /ˈvɔɹ.tɪ.siːz/. UK: non-rhotic or partially rhotic in some varieties; /ˈvɔː.tɪ.siːz/ with a longer /ɔː/ and less rhotic control. Australia: typically /ˈvɔːt.sɪˌsiːz/ with strong /ɔː/ and pronounced /t/ before /s/; sometimes a mild schwa occurs in rapid speech. In all, the final -ces tends toward /-siz/; the main differences lie in the vowel length of the first syllable and the rhotic realization.
Difficulties include: 1) The /ɔː/ in stressed first syllable requires mouth opening and back tongue height; avoid a short /ɑ/; 2) The /t/ before /ɪ/ or /siːz/ must be released as a true stop to prevent blending with the subsequent /s/; 3) The cluster /tɪs/ can cause a subtle +siːz sequence that some speakers mispronounce as /tiz/ or /təs/; practice per-syllable clarity and emphasize the /s/ onset of the final syllable.
Yes—English pluralization of Greek/Latin-derived nouns can invite alternative spellings like 'vortexes' in some contexts. However, standard technical usage prefers 'vortices.' The stress is firmly on the first syllable, and the final cluster ends with a voiced s as /-siz/. Avoid pronouncing it as /ˈvɔːr.tɪk/ or /ˈvɔː.tɪsəs/; keep the final /siz/ sound intact for accuracy.
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Vortex comes from Latin vortex, from vort- (to twist, coil) + -ix. The -es plural follows standard English noun pluralization for Latin-derived terms. The earliest English use hails from the 17th century in scientific writing, influenced by Latin and Greek roots for twisting concepts. The base root is tied to the sense of winding or bending; by the 18th–19th centuries, vortices were used in physics and fluid mechanics to describe revolving mass or flow patterns. The word’s meaning expanded as scientists studied atmospheric and hydrodynamic phenomena, where multiple rotating structures could exist simultaneously, hence the plural vortices.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "vortices" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "vortices"
-hes sounds
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