2 syllables: Wed, ges. Stress on Wed.
WEJ-uhz
/ˈwɛdʒəz/
Wedges is pronounced WEJ-uhz (/ˈwɛdʒəz/). It has two syllables (Wed-ges), with the stress on "Wed". Wedges is a plural noun referring to items shaped like wedge-shaped blocks or masses, often used to elevate or separate objects. In fashion, 'wedges' denotes a type of heel with a uniform, sloping sole. The term also appears in geology and cooking, where wedge-shaped pieces or devices are employed for support or separation.
nounWedges is a plural noun referring to items shaped like wedge-shaped blocks or masses, often used to elevate or separate objects. In fashion, 'wedges' denotes a type of heel with a uniform, sloping sole. The term also appears in geology and cooking, where wedge-shaped pieces or devices are employed for support or separation.
- Mispronouncing /dʒ/ as /d/ or /tʃ/; this flattens the affricate into a plain stop or chord blend. Correct by articulating a brief stop with the tongue-tip behind the upper teeth, then immediate frication—like saying 'j' quickly but with a stop. - Shortening or mispronouncing the /ɪ/; it can become a near-schwa or merge with /ɛ/. Practice a crisp /ɪ/ by keeping it shorter than a full vowel, but longer than a reduced form. - Final /z/ devoicing or turning into /s/ in fast speech; keep the laryngeal voice crack on /z/ by keeping your vocal cords engaged. Practice with word pairs to feel the vocalization before the final sibilant.
How to Pronounce Wedges
"She wore comfortable wedges to the summer party."
"The construction crew placed wedges to level the doorway."
"Geologists noted several large wedges of rock protruding from the cliff."
Wedges is pronounced with two syllables: WEDJ-iz. IPA: US/UK/AU: ˈwɛdʒɪz. Start with the /w/ labial-velar glide, then the voiceless but voiced-alveolar affricate /dʒ/ as in 'judge', followed by a short /ɪ/ vowel and end with an unvoiced to voiced /z/ depending on emphasis. Keep the stress on the first syllable: WEDGES.
Common errors include misplacing the /dʒ/ as a plain /d/ or /tʃ/ (saying 'wed-ges' or 'wed-ches'), and shortening the /ɪ/ so it sounds like /ɛ/ or /ɪə/. Another pitfall is letting the final /z/ become a quick /s/ or a fully voiceless /s/ in rapid speech. To correct: emphasize the /dʒ/ as a single affricate, hold a clear short /ɪ/ before the final /z/, and keep the voice on /z/ steady without oversmoothing to /s/.
In US English, /ˈwɛdʒɪz/ with a clear /dʒ/ and a lax /ɪ/. In UK English, the /ɪ/ can be slightly shorter and the /z/ may be a lenis sound; some speakers reduce vowel length in unstressed syllables. Australian English aligns with /ˈwɛdʒɪz/ but may have broader vowels and a lessened rhoticity in related words; the main variation is vowel quality and consonant voicing, not the core segment. Overall the word remains rhotic-friendly across dialects.
The difficulty lies in the combination /dʒ/ immediately after /e/ and the final /z/ release in rapid speech. The /dʒ/ requires precise tongue placement: front of the palate, with a brief stop followed by frication. The /ɪ/ in the second syllable is short, which can blur with neighboring vowels in fast speech. Additionally, maintaining voice on the final /z/ without turning it into /s/ requires slight vocal cord engagement. Practice the affricate carefully and steady the final z-voicing.
Sometimes learners ask if 'wedges' has a silent letter or if the 'e' alters the preceding vowel. In this word, all letters contribute: the first syllable centers on /ˈwɛd/, with the /dʒ/ onset blending into /ɪ/ for the second syllable, and the final /z/ voiced. There is no silent letter. The stress is on the first syllable. Focus on the crisp /dʒ/ and a reduced but clear /ɪ/ before the final /z/.
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- US: maintain rhotic clarity in related phrases; emphasize the /r/ in nearby words while keeping /w/ rounded. - UK: /ɪ/ tends to be slightly shorter; avoid over-drawing the second syllable; keep /dʒ/ as a compact affricate. - AU: broader vowel sounds in neighbouring words can affect the perceived vowel in the second syllable; keep the /ɪ/ crisp while allowing surrounding intonation to lead. IPA references help ensure you stay within standard phonemic boundaries.
Wedges derives from the noun wedge, from Old English wegge, which itself traces to Proto-Germanic *waką (feel: wedge). The concept of a wedge—an object with a triangular cross-section used to split or raise material—dates to ancient machinery and tools. The pluralized form wedges emerged in Middle English as figurative language for multiple wedge-shaped pieces, expanding to contexts like footwear heels and architectural shims. The sense of a uniform sloping bottom in footwear became common in the 20th century with the rise of the wedge heel, a design attributed to earlier refashioning of sandals and boots. In geology and cooking, wedges describe removable, triangular sections that fit within a larger whole, preserving its stability while enabling separation. First known written uses appear in 14th–15th century English texts describing wedges as tools, with footwear references increasing in the 19th and 20th centuries as fashion embraced all-height heels.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Wedges" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Wedges" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Wedges"
-ges sounds
-eds 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.
