WEE-kendz
/ˈwiˌkɛndz/
weekends is pronounced WEE-kendz (/ˈwiˌkɛndz/). Weekends refers to the days of the week that comprise Saturday and Sunday, or to activities, events, or leisure time occurring on those days. It denotes a recurring, two-day period at the end of the standard workweek when people typically rest, relax, or engage in recreation. The term emphasizes the boundary between weekday responsibilities and leisure time.
Weekends refers to the days of the week that comprise Saturday and Sunday, or to activities, events, or leisure time occurring on those days. It denotes a recurring, two-day period at the end of the standard workweek when people typically rest, relax, or engage in recreation. The term emphasizes the boundary between weekday responsibilities and leisure time.
"We usually go hiking on weekends."
"She likes to catch up on reading on the weekends."
"The city hosts farmers' markets most weekends."
Break it into two syllables with primary stress on the first: /ˈwiː.kɛndz/. The first syllable uses a long EE vowel as in weekend, followed by a short -ndz ending. Your lips widen slightly for the /iː/ and you should speed into the /k/ to avoid a drawn-out ending. Listen for a smooth /iː/ into /k/ without an intrusive vowel. Reference audio pronunciations from reputable dictionaries will confirm the /ˈwiːk/ onset and the /ɛndz/ coda.
Two common slips are turning the /iː/ into a shorter vowel or inserting an extra vowel after the /k/ leading to /ˈwɪk.əndz/ or /ˈwiː.kəndz/. Another error is mispronouncing the final /dz/ as a simple /z/ or /d/. Correction: keep /wiː/ as a single long vowel, ensure the /k/ is released crisply, then end with /ndz/ rather than a plain /nd/ or /nz/.
In US English, the first syllable bears strong stress with a clear long /iː/; the /ndz/ at the end is voiced and tends to be slightly alveolar. In UK English, the /ˈwiː.kəndz/ has a similar stress but the /ɡ/ is not present; the /ndz/ may be realized as a lighter, clipped /nz/ in some dialects. Australian English tends to be non-rhotic in some speakers, so the /r/ is not involved here, but the final /dz/ remains; vowels may be marginally more centralized. Always check local pronunciations.
The challenge lies in the cluster /k/ plus /ndz/ and maintaining the long vowel /iː/ without inserting an unnecessary vowel between /iː/ and /k/. Many learners compress or misplace the tongue, causing /wiː.kəndz/ to become /wiː.kɛn(d)z/ or /wiː.kændz/. Focusing on the smooth transition from the long vowel to a crisp /k/ release and then the affricate-like /ndz/ helps clarity.
Think of the word as two simple parts you can practice separately: /wiːk/ and /əndz/. First, lock the long /iː/ and strong /k/ release in /wiːk/. Then move to the ending /əndz/, making sure the tongue taps the alveolar ridge for the /n/ and the /dz/ is heard as a voiced affricate.
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The word weekend originated in the English-speaking world in the 17th century but did not become common until the 19th and early 20th centuries. The concept of a weekend emerged from labor reforms in Britain and other parts of Europe that sought to limit the number of hours workers could legally labor each week and to protect time for rest and recreation. Initially, the term often appeared in the plural as weekends to describe habitual two-day intervals rather than a fixed calendar period. The modern sense crystallized as industrial economies standardized a five-day workweek, leaving Saturday and Sunday as non-working days. It draws from the combination of weekend (the two end days of the week) and the plural suffix -s, indicating recurring instances. First known uses include references to “week ends” as end-of-week leisure, with printed usage becoming more frequent in newspapers and diaries in the 1800s, and then in dictionaries by the early 1900s. Over time, the term has also broadened to mean any pair of nonworking days or time off, not strictly tied to Saturday and Sunday in every culture, reflecting variations in work schedules globally.
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Words that rhyme with "weekends"
-ess sounds
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