WAH-chuhz
/ˈwɑtʃəz/
watches is pronounced WAH-chuhz (/ˈwɑtʃəz/). Watches is a plural noun or verb form meaning devices that tell time or the act of observing. In everyday use it most often refers to timepieces worn on the wrist, but can also denote looking at something with interest. The word combines the plural suffix -es with a voiced consonant cluster, yielding a crisp, sibilant final.
Watches is a plural noun or verb form meaning devices that tell time or the act of observing. In everyday use it most often refers to timepieces worn on the wrist, but can also denote looking at something with interest. The word combines the plural suffix -es with a voiced consonant cluster, yielding a crisp, sibilant final.
- You may pronounce WATCHES as WATCH-ESS by adding an extra syllable; ensure you maintain two syllables with a /tʃ/ in the middle and a /ɪz/ ending. - The final cluster /tʃɪz/ can be misheard as /tʃəs/ or /tʃəz/; aim for /tʃɪz/ with a voiced /z/. - Some learners mispronounce /ɒ/ as /ɑː/ or /ɒː/ crossing the vowel height; keep it compact and rounded. - In connected speech, the /t/ can be softened into a /ʃ/ like /ˈwɔːʃɪz/; keep the crisp /t/ for accurate perception. - The plural -es ending should be pronounced with a clear /z/ (or /ɪz/ after a vowel). Practice with minimal pairs: watches vs wash-es vs wash-es.
"I bought two watches as gifts for my parents."
"She watches the sunset from the balcony every evening."
"He watches the clock and sighs, waiting for the meeting to start."
Pronounce WATCH-iz with primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈwɒtʃ.ɪz/ in US/UK. The first syllable uses /ɒ/ as in 'cot' and the second is a light /ɪ/ followed by a voiced z sound /z/. In many dialects the /t/ can be affricated toward /tʃ/ in rapid speech, but keep it clearly as /t/ to avoid confusion with 'watch' + 'ers'. Close your mouth around /ɒ/ and release a crisp /tʃ/ before the /ɪz/. Audio examples: you’ll hear /ˈwɒtʃɪz/ in many dictionaries and pronunciation sites.
Common mistakes: (1) Under-emphasizing the /tʃ/ and turning the first syllable into a plain /wɒt/; (2) Slurring the final /ɪz/ into a simple /z/ or /s/ making it sound like 'watch-es' instead of 'watch-iz'; (3) Misplacing the /æ/ or /ɒ/ by using a closed front vowel as in 'cat' or an open back vowel as in 'cot'. Corrections: articulate a clear /tʃ/ after /ɒ/ to preserve the ch sound; release a precise /ɪ/ before /z/, avoiding /s/ contamination; keep the vowel height steady: /ɒ/ in the first syllable and /ɪ/ in the second. Use slow practice with minimal pairs to lock the contrasts.
In US and UK, the first syllable uses /ɒ/ as in 'clock' and the second syllable is /ɪz/ or /ɪz/ depending on voicing; both share the /wɒtʃ/ onset. Australian English is similar but may have a slightly broader /ɒː/ or a more back/open quality; the final /z/ may voice more softly in connected speech. All three keep the stress on the first syllable: /ˈwɒtʃɪz/. Practitioners should listen for rhoticity differences in connected speech but the primary vowel remains the British/American /ɒ/ region.
The difficulty lies in the /tʃ/ cluster after a back vowel and the final /ɪz/ syllable, which can reduce to an /əz/ or even /əz/ in rapid speech. Beginners often merge /tʃ/ with /t/ or /dʒ/, or drop the /ɪ/ before /z/. Practicing precise articulation of /tʃ/ and keeping the /ɪ/ distinct helps. Also, rapid speech can turn the /z/ into an /s/; slow down to maintain the voicing contrast, and use shadowing to embed the characteristic rhythm: WATCH-iz.
Yes—particularly the plural noun sense, you often hear it as a two-syllable word with a clear /tʃ/ and a final voiced /z/. In rapid speech, the /t/ can retract toward a stronger /tʃ/ reminder, forming a near-/tʃ/ blend. The verb form he watches retains the same pronunciation but the contrast in meaning requires careful intonation in phrases like He watches the clock versus He watches the news.
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- US: Keep /ɒ/ near the low back rounded vowel; ensure the /tʃ/ is crisp and not merged with a /dʒ/. The /z/ should voice; avoid de-voicing at the end. - UK: Similar, but you might hear a slightly more centralized /ɒ/ and a glottal stop for /t/ in fast speech; still maintain /tʃ/ and /z/. - AU: Slightly broader vowels; you may hear /ɒ/ more open; keep /tʃ/ distinct and /z/ voiced; avoid turning it into /ʃ/ or /s/. IPA references: US /ˈwɒtʃɪz/, UK /ˈwɒtʃɪz/, AU /ˈwɒtʃɪz/.
The word watches traces to Old English wortian? Not quite—this entry clarifies: Watches derives from the verb watch, meaning to observe or keep a lookout. The noun sense for timepieces developed in Middle English as watch-bands or watch clocks, evolving through Germanic languages where compounds like watch + -es signified plural or third-person forms in other related nouns. The modern sense of a wristwatch emerged in the 17th to 18th centuries as portable timepieces gained popularity and fashionable accessories. The plural -es ending marks either the noun plural (watches) or the verb third-person singular present tense (he watches). The semantic shift from active watching to a device associated with timekeeping occurred as mechanical clocks became personal and portable, aligning with social trends toward punctuality and personal adornment. The earliest printed usages appear in mid-1600s English texts, gradually stabilizing into the current dual noun/verb utility of watches by the 1800s. Throughout, the core sense centers on perception of time and the regulation it provides to daily life.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "watches" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "watches" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "watches"
-hes sounds
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